Spotlight on South Africa

Apr 12, 2010

South Africa.

With the World Cup kicking off in June, now is the perfect time to sell South Africa, just don’t forget what else this destination has to offer.

With less than two months to go before the 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa this summer, time is running out to sell World Cup packages to your clients.

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According to FIFA, around 2.2 million out of 2.9 million World Cup tickets have so far been sold, and tour operators say packages are being snapped up fast as the event nears kick off.

Emirates is offering tailor-made FIFA World Cup packages which include flights, accommodation, ground transportation and match tickets.

Fans have a choice of three South African destinations to select as a base camp for their trip – Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban - and packages include flights, accommodation in a 2,3,4 or 5-star hotel, match tickets and transfers to and from the airport and stadiums either by bus or by plane depending on how far the base camp is from the matches.

MMI Travel has also introduced packages including flights, accommodation, ground transportation and match tickets. Rajeev Purohit, senior relationship manager, Strategic Alliances, MMI Travel says tickets are still available for all matches, but if clients want tickets to the final round matches they had better move fast.

“MMI started selling packages in November 2009 and demand really started picking up after the FIFA final draw took place on the 4th of December,” says Purohit.

“We have sold 300 plus packages to date. Currently, we have limited availability on the Final Round series matches, as they have been in very high in demand. Otherwise, packages are available for all other games of the World Cup.”

MMI Travel has also been appointed as an agent for FIFA’s Official Hospitality Programme and Purohit says hospitality packages have been selling well to high net worth individuals and corporates.

This year’s World Cup marks the first time the event has ever been held in an African nation, and all eyes are on South Africa to see how the country will cope with the massive influx of fans, who will be pouring in from 11 June – 11 July desperate for a piece of the action.