2010 Football / Soccer World Cup - South Africa information dedicated to England and all football fans worldwide
WORLD CUP 2010 SOUTH AFRICA LATEST ACCOMMODATION NEWS
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9/08/07 Cape Town accommodation in the spotlight as projected World Cup visitors rise - World Cup organisers are hunting the Southern cape and winelands region for extra accommodation following studies suggesting that the 2010 World Cup will attract 300,000 visitors to the area. Originally, only 50,000 visitors were expected but with Cape Town's flexibility as a World Cup base for tourists, with comprehensive flight links internally and abroad and a relatively solid infrastructure, hotel space is likely to be at a premium during the 2010 tournament.
19/06/07 World Cup accommodation shortage in Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth - Tourist projections by 2010 World Cup tickets and accommodation organisers MATCH have revealed a potential shortfall of beds in the coastal host city. Speaking at the 2010 Tourism Readiness Conference, Urban-Econ Tourism director Shannon Moffett said there was a 'large gap' in terms of accommodation in all categories, which was 'threatening the province‘s ability to maximise tourism potential from the tournament'. Moffett also said that Nelson Mandela Bay requires 27,400 beds but only 6,207 are so far available.
At this stage in the preparations for the World Cup, Port Elizabeth does not look like being the ideal base for fans travelling to the 2010 tournament. As well as the shortage of and inability to book World Cup hotels and accommodation, Moffett admitted that information about attractions and accommodation in the area are insufficient and entertainment and shopping experiences are inadequate.
14/05/07 Cruise ship accommodation plans shelved - Jaime Byrom, head of Match, a FIFA appointed company to deliver on accommodation has announced that ships will not be used for accommodation in the coastal host cities. Speaking at the recent Tourism Indaba media debate on the 2010 world cup Byrom went on to say, "We have made a calculated decision not to include artificiality and [will] allocate people at lodges, bed and breakfast which makes this world cup very unique".
Byrom also confirmed that Match had been in contact with hotel communities in the neighbouring countries so that they would benefit as part of the campaign to make the tournament an African world cup.
20/04/07 Luxury ocean liners could fill World Cup accommodation gap - The organisation in charge of 2010 World Cup accommodation and tickets, MATCH, has said that in the event of a shortage of hotel and bed and breakfast places for the tournament, cruise ships may well be an option to house the many thousands of fans expected to travel to South Africa for the tournament.
55,000 accommodation units are required for the month long World Cup - but so far only 23,000 have been guaranteed by the hotel sector. Bed and breakfasts and other small guest houses are being urged to sign up with MATCH but as yet there still remains a shortfall. If the situation has not improved by July, FIFA will begin commissioning luxury cruise liners to make up the numbers.
1/03/07 World Cup accommodation will be available outside host cities - South African tourism boss Moeketsi Mosola has revealed more details concerning accommodation for the 2010 World Cup. Speaking at a business forum in Bloemfontein, Mosola said that there will be a focus on 'spreading tourism benefits beyond cities where matches are taking place, and of providing spectators with an even wider range of accommodation options'.
Any established businesses wishing to offer accommodation in South Africa for World Cup fans must obtain a grading rating from the South African Tourism Grading Council, so the standard of bed and breakfast, hotel or guest lodge accommodation should be up to standard. The reason for the grades is to allow those offering accommodation to be contracted by MATCH - the FIFA company responsible for accommodation, tickets and information.
19/01/06 World Cup tourists will be spoilt for choice - Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, has detailed some of the accommodation options for visitors to South Africa during the 2010 World Cup. Even though the tournament is still almost 4 years away, van Schalkwyk gave a rundown of some of the accommodation options when speaking at the opening of the Vakantie Beurs, Europe's largest exhibition dedicated to tourism and leisure.
'In previous tournaments, only hotels were contracted to accommodate people, however, South Africa is delivering on its promise to ensure a pleasant world cup.'
'For the first time in World Cup history, non-hotel accommodation such as national park accommodation, lodges, guesthouses, and bed and breakfasts will also be contracted,' said Mr van Schalkwyk.
9/11/06 2010 World Cup tourists encouraged to stay in safari lodges - South Africa minister of environmental affairs and tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk has detailed plans by the organising committee to make use of the non-hotel sector to provide over 50,000 rooms it is required to make available to FIFA for the 2010 World Cup. Game lodges and reserves along with guest houses and bed and breakfast accommodation will house the influx of fans from all over the world.
The minister went on to say that fans staying in game reserves would have dedicated roads to match venues and organisers even plan to lay on charter flights for those with tickets to the games.
It has also been revealed that South Africa fan fests are planned for those travelling without World Cup tickets. Following the huge success of the fan fests in Germany in 2006, huge screens are planned to show live matches.