South African Hospitality Sector Gears Up for 2010 Soccer World Cup
by: Sarah Donnelly | Total views: 2 | Word Count: 479 | View PDF | Print View
South Africa as a whole, and the hospitality industry in particular, are gearing up for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Hopes are high for a successful and profitable World Cup, as well as job creation in the hospitality sector. Games will be played in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenburg, Tshwane/Pretoria between 11 June and 11 July 2010. It is in these areas where much of the job creation will occur, and construction and development is clearly visible.
It has been estimated that the 2010 World Cup will create some 129 000 jobs, contribute around R21-billion to the country's gross domestic product and another R7.2-billion in government taxes, with the 350 000 visitors spending a some R9.8-billion in the country.
The Olympics too are yet to be held in Africa, so the World Cup will be the largest sporting event ever held on the African continent. Teams from 32 countries will be cheered by an estimated 2.7-million local spectators and a global television audience of billions. According to Fifa, the total cumulative television audience for the 2006 World Cup was 26.3-billion (24.2-billion in-home and 2.1-billion out-of-home viewers). Assessed in terms of the number of global viewers, the World Cup is the world's largest sporting event.
South African hospitality and customer service, in my opinion, having travelled across much of the world, ranks amongst some of the world’s finest. This is despite the continued need for further training, education and development within the sector, as well as the ongoing need to retain young hospitality graduations within South Africa. Graduates are still tending to look for international experience upon graduation and are finding jobs in the UK, but also, increasingly in Dubai and Saudi Arabia where work permits are organized for them.
Refurbishment of existing stadiums and building of new ones continues in South Africa, as well as upgrades to infrastructure such as airports. Meanwhile, many smaller enterprises, such as guesthouses and restaurants, are preparing to host the world.
"The hotel sector in South Africa is first-rate," the Fifa inspection team said in its country report. "There are enough hotel rooms to accommodate everyone taking part in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, including media representatives and fans from around the world, both in the main towns ... and in the other towns suggested as 2010 Fifa World Cup venues."
Other options are the many bed & breakfast establishments in and around all the host cities, and over 150 backerpacker lodges.
With world class restaurants, hotels and wine farms and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, South Africans are right to be upbeat about this event.
Visit http://www.hospitalityjobsafrica.co.za for continued news and events leading up to the World Cup as well as hospitality jobs and training for the hotel and travel industry.
About the Author
Hospitality Consultant in South Africa. Visit: http://www.hospitalityjobsafrica.co.za
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