There is no question at all that South Africa has more than enough accommodation for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM.

‘There is no question at all that the industry will be able to accommodate people… and accommodate them easily and comfortably.'

This is the word from both South African Tourism and the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA). Both organisations responded today to statements made by FIFA President, Sepp Blatter on the SABC 2 programme Morning Live in which he said there was insufficient accommodation in South Africa for 2010 fans.

Moeketsi Mosola, CEO at South African Tourism says the organisation is investing just over R200 million in a global destination marketing campaign aimed at attracting as many visitors as possible to South Africa, as well as marketing South Africa as the host nation for the world cup. This is all part of South African Tourism's stated ambition to welcome 10 million visitors to South Africa by 2010.

"We are determined and we are confident. We would not have invested the nation's money in marketing on this scale if there was any doubt at all around capacity for 2010.

"Besides, 2010 is not seen, and never has been seen, as an end it self for tourism. It is but a milestone, albeit a significant milestone, in the development to maturity and full global competitiveness of the industry and the destination."

South Africa has almost 100 000 graded rooms, he says. "Most of these rooms are in and around the host cities. FIFA needs only 55 000 graded rooms for the 2010 championship. There are graded rooms to spare in South Africa, and everybody who comes for the World Cup will find a place to stay easily."

MATCH (the services company contracted by FIFA to provide accommodation) requires 55 000 rooms for championship visitors. However, MATCH has so far managed to contract approximately 28 000 rooms as some of South Africa's hospitality industry chooses to market its products and services independent of MATCH for 2010.

However, the fact that MATCH had managed to so far contract only 28 000 rooms to date did not mean that there was insufficient accommodation capacity in South Africa for 2010.

"In fact," says Thembi Kunene, CEO at the TGCSA, we have almost 100,000 graded hotel and non-hotel rooms and we grade in the region of 150 establishments a month. South Africa attracts between 500 000 and 600 000 visitors a month in the normal course of business, and there is ample accommodation for these people. There is no question at all that the industry will be able to accommodate those people… and accommodate them easily and comfortably."

Mosola, however, cautions the South African accommodation industry to be sensible around 2010 pricing policies and structures. One of this destination's most compelling benefits is the outstanding value for money it offers visitors, he says. If accommodation providers inflate rates beyond what is reasonable for 2010, they will do much to erode this benefit, damage the destination's hard-won reputation for affordability and impact negatively on tourism arrivals in the medium to long term.