Global Media Discussion – Industry approach to 2010 World Cup

International and local media representatives gathered in the Durban ICC auditorium to discuss whether Africa’s tourism industry is going to deliver a truly African Soccer World Cup to the world in 2010.

The 2007 Global Media Face-Off was moderated by former BBC Foreign Correspondent Tim Sebastian, and it covered the issues faced by South Africa’s tourism industry, as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup.

The main challenges discussed were infrastructure (transport and accommodation), safety & security, and airlift.

The following points were made during the discussions:

* Funds have been set aside for safety & security, by 2010 there would be 193,000 police (including 30,000 extra for the Cup), about 1 policeman per 10 people.

* Johannesburg International Airport would be able to cater for 21 million people by 2010. R900 million would be invested in upgrading the airport

* Five new stadiums would be built and five existing stadiums would be upgraded

South African Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola said “The objective of the South African tourism industry is to ensure that visitors to the 2010 World Cup are treated like gold and receive ‘gold-class’ service”. He continued by explaining how the tourism experience for 2010 would be unique and truly African by saying “We have ensured that venues and accommodation facilities have been spread across the country”.

In fact, FIFA has decided for the first time to approve graded bed & breakfast, self-catering and lodge accommodation for the World Cup.  Small to medium sized businesses will undoubtedly benefit – and so will tourists.  Staying at a game lodge, a visitor could have breakfast watching elephants in the morning, go see a soccer game – and then return to see African game in the evening!

27,000 rooms have already been graded, and Jaime Byrom, head of MATCH (the company appointed to deliver accommodation and ticketing) says it is on target for contracting 55,000 rooms by 2010.

2010 preparedness was high on the agenda. An airlift strategy has been approved and already several new routes, services and operators have come on board.  On safety and security, Arno Lamoer, Divisional Police Commander of SA Police acknowledged that there is cause for concern, however SAPs was working hard to forge partnerships with communities and various sectors such as tourism, to tackle the problem as a national issue as opposed to a ‘police-only’ issue.

He emphasised that public education and more contextualised and accurate reporting on crime in South Africa would go a long way towards reassuring visitors about the country. Most violent crime in South Africa occurs “within a circle of people who know each other”.

A ripple of laughter occurred when Lamoer voiced his concern about visiting soccer hooligans – and that plans were also in place for this eventuality!  There is also a belief that the bad guys will not be so bad during the tournament, as evidenced by previous large national events – ‘temporary behavioural change patterns’ was the technical phrase…..

There was some time spent on transport in Johannesburg, with Sebastian asking at one point whether people would be “stuck in traffic”.  Taxi drivers seem to be an issue with the term ‘taxi wars’ being used. Again, new cars and driver re-training will be employed to sort out the situation, with special licenses for airport taxi drivers.

The closing statements all carried the same theme – everything is on schedule, the infrastructure will be in place, the security and safety will be addressed, and its all systems go.

Report by The Mole