'SA has enough rooms for 2010'

"We are determined and we are confident, we would not have invested the nation's money if there was any doubt around capacity for 2010," its chief executive Moeketsi Mosola reacted to doubts expressed by Fifa president Sepp Blatter.

The organisation was investing over R200m in a global destination marketing campaign aimed at attracting as many visitors as possible to South Africa, said Mosola.

"Besides, 2010 is not seen as an end for tourism... It is but a milestone in the development to maturity and full global competitiveness of the industry and the destination."

South Africa had almost 100 000 graded rooms, most of which were in and around the host cities, he said.

"FIFA needs only 55 000 graded rooms for the 2010 championship. There are graded rooms to spare in SA, and everybody who comes for the World Cup will find a place to stay easily."

Also replying to Blatter's concerns about accommodation, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa's (TGCSA) chief executive Thembi Kunene, said it graded about 150 establishments a month.

"SA attracts between 500 000 and 600 000 visitors a month in the normal course of business, and there is ample accommodation for these people.

"There is no question at all that the industry will be able to accommodate 2010 arrivals."

Mosola has cautioned the accommodation industry to be sensible around 2010 pricing policies and structures.

"If accommodation providers inflate rates beyond what is reasonable for 2010, they will do much to erode this benefit, damage the destination's hard-won reputation for affordability and impact negatively on tourism arrivals in the medium to long term," he warned.

- Sapa