2010 World Cup made less money than expected
Reuters - Monday 06 December 2010, 17:33
JOHANNESBURG - The 2010 World Cup helped
to rebrand South Africa but brought in far less money than
anticipated, officials said on Monday.
Tourism during the June-July tournament brought in some 3.6
billion rand ($519.6 million), far less than the government had
initially expected, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk
told reporters.
The global economic downturn contributed to fewer overseas
spectators attending the games, making it difficult for
President Jacob Zuma's government to recoup the nearly 40
billion rand it had spent on infrastructure.
"There are a number of discussions that are taking place on
options on how the stadia can be used," Van Schalkwyk said.
The government was exploring options including the South
Korean example, where housing developments and shopping centres
were incorporated into stadiums.
Some municipalities have called on the national government
to make funds available for maintenance, which they say they
cannot afford.
The month-long tournament, held in Africa for the first
time, helped to improve global perceptions of the continent's
biggest economy, which had been known primarily for high levels
of crime, Van Schalkwyk said.
"Almost 90 percent of tourists said they would consider
visiting South Africa again, while 96 percent said they would
recommend the country to their friends."
More than 300,000 people visited the country for the
tournament, with 38 percent coming from within Africa, followed
by 24 percent from Europe, 23 percent from Central and South
America and 11 percent from North America.