Related Articles
Top Stories
Feb 13 2012 12:15
Miner Xstrata says it has brought forward maintenance on two furnaces to assist Eskom to save power.
Feb 13 2012 10:43
Although jobs were created, the economy is still 420 000 jobs short of the peak employment level before the 2009 global financial crisis, says Adcorp.
Feb 13 2012 07:58
Greek lawmakers have approved a new round of drastic austerity measures after a long day of street battles between police and protesters left dozens injured.
Johannesburg - Acting as the first point of contact that many visitors to the 2010 Fifa World Cup have with South Africa, hotels have to answer for the many queries and concerns that foreign football fans have about South Africa.
David Solomon, chairperson of Solomon Brothers Property, owner of the Pepper Club hotel in Cape Town, said many tourists wished to use the city as a base, because they believe it is the safest place to stay in South Africa.
"We've noted a trend among guests planning to base themselves in Cape Town and commute to games in other regions," said Solomon, adding the tendency was also noticable during the recent British & Irish Lions Rugby Tour. "The attraction of the Atlantic Seaboard was also a big draw card," said Solomon.
According to him top on the list of tourists' concerns have been safety and security, the availability of accommodation and access to stadiums.
Public relations manager at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, Benita Kursan, said tourists who contacted the hotel were concerned about SA's crime rate and transport infrastructure.
"There are perceptions that SA will not be ready in time for the World Cup or have the necessary infrastructure to support it," she said, listing common questions being about SA's available infrastructure, services, variety of shopping destinations and quality restaurants.
Kursan agreed that Cape Town was the preferred base for many tourists, as it offered more well-known tourist attractions.
Jacqui Reid of Sure Zenojet Travel, said other preferred destinations included game reserves and major cities tourists had heard about such as Johannesburg and Durban.
Bookings made
Although the qualification rounds and draw for the tournament haven't been completed, fans have already made bookings.
Solomon said the group's luxury hotel and spa - set to open in Cape Town early next year - was already 80% to 90% booked for the duration of the tournament.
"The guests are predominately made up of the English and Brazilians whose teams have qualified early," he said
"I think that many of the predicted last-minute travellers will be made up of British soccer fans."
He said it was an emerging trend where overseas tourists flew in for a single game and returned home in the space of a couple of days, as opposed to staying for a number of weeks.