The ultimate question that will be asked by a few worried faces among the 483 000 visitors to the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, as well as by the many members of the international media contingent, is: will South Africa handle the infrastructural demands of a tournament of this magnitude, or will it be exposed as a substandard host? A few statistics have pointed to the fact that perhaps South Africans, and the world, are arguably a tad over-pessimistic about the Rainbow Nation's ability to handle the pressure.

Gillian Saunders, director of Grant Thornton Strategic Solutions, says that the 483 000 visitors will not be at the same place at the same time for much of the World Cup, therefore not overburdening any metropolitan area to such a degree that an implosion is possible.

She told Media24 that during the busiest tourist month of the year, the country handles 870 000 visitors. So there is no reason for panic.

Worried South Africans should remember also that 40 percent of the matches will take place during working hours in nine cities, and over a period of 20 working days.

1.7 million bed nights

FIFA, the world governing body, and its accommodation agent Match, originally had reservations for 1.7 million bed nights, which always represented more than what would be required.

In early December 2009, they put 450 000 of those bed nights back onto the open market. That is because the Final Draw had given a more accurate indication of where and when beds will be required.

For the final three weeks of the World Cup, for example, Polokwane would not be required to make many rooms available, according to Sake-Rapport.

This means that local hotels and bed and breakfast guesthouses would be able to intensify the efforts for the international market now that these rooms have been released by Match and FIFA in advance.

The export of wines has received a timely boost because of the World Cup. According to Su Birch, executive head of Wines of South Africa, almost all the supermarkets in Europe - among them Sainsbury and Tesco - have been willing to participate in promotional campaigns for South African groups.

Wine export to increase

The export of South African wines could increase by between 10 and 15 percent in 2010, according to Sake-Rapport.

The strong value of the rand, however, could be detrimental to the growth of the export market.

Dr Johan Botha, senior economist at Standard Bank, says between R15 and R20-billion will be spent during the World Cup.

Gidon Novick, joint chief executive of Comair, said that the aviation company has hired two additional Boeings 737-800 for the World Cup month.

The price of air tickets would increase by between 50 and 60 percent during that month, but that is not extraordinary, as the same tendency is true during the Christmas season, said Novick.

Tour bus operators such as Translux, Greyhound and Intercape would definitely benefit from the World Cup.

Suntan oil to be best-seller

Professor Jackie Walters, director of the Institute for Transport and Logistical Studies at the University of Johannesburg, says that Translux will manufacture many new buses that will be used by the organisers Match and FIFA for the World Cup.

Camping chairs, suntan oil and food will be best-sellers during the tournament.

Brian Weyers, corporative marketing manager of the Shoprite group, told Media24 that outdoor goods such as cooler bags and umbrellas, as well as suntan oil would be popular with visitors from the Northern Hemisphere.

According to Pierre van Tonder, managing director of Spur, a commercial month comparable to December - usually a bumper month - is expected in June.

The South African red meat industry expects that overseas visitors would eat about 2636 tonnes of meat during the month of the World Cup. That does not mean that there would be a shortage for the local carnivores, as the country eats two million tonnes of meat annually.

The worst-case scenario is that there would be a need for 164 tonnes of beef, 23 tonnes of lamb, 356 tonnes of pork and 217 tonnes of chicken.

Europeans prefer pork, Americans and Australians prefer beef and chicken, while the English love their beef and pork.

Article courtesy of Leadership Magazine.