Cape Town to Benefit Most from 2010 World Cup

Ample accommodation will see fans basing themselves in Cape Town

The current lack of accommodation in 2010 FIFA World Cup host cities such as Durban and Bloemfontein will add to the growing trend of overseas sports fans basing themselves in Cape Town and ‘commuting’ to games in other regions during the tournament.

The construction of new five star hotels around the city is an indication that Cape Town is positioning itself to take advantage of the predicted exponential growth in the local tourism industry.

Increased booking enquiries in have indicated that Cape Town is already benefiting from the shortages in smaller host cities and that Cape Town is in the best position to attract the majority of the expected 450 000 visitors.

FIFA has estimated that approximately 55 000 hotel rooms will be required for the duration of the tournament - 15 000 more than is currently available.

Cape Town’s charm and a combination of factors all work together to enhance the global appeal of Cape Town when compared to other 2010 host cities. World-class beaches, ample tourist attractions and a cosmopolitan night life make Cape Town the must-visit host city for visitors during 2010.

With increased accommodation options in the city around the time of the tournament, Cape Town is also best placed to take advantage of so-called ‘last-minute travellers’.

This is an emerging trend whereby overseas tourists fly in for a single game and return home in the space of a couple of days, as opposed to staying for a few weeks. Next year’s tournament is predicted to have the highest number of this type of tourist than any previous World Cups.

For more exciting news and more up to date information on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa browse our Sport & FIFA 2010 Section.

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