The road leading to the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa had many South African’s thinking they were going to become Millionaire’s in a month. People were renting out their houses at ludicrous rates and then moving in with family for the month or moving into their garages while guests occupied their houses. Hotels, Lodges and Venues bumped their rates to insanely high amounts to capitalise as much as possible on tourists. But from the migration figures quoted by the department of home affairs, figures of visitors to South Africa were rather dismal. Add to this the fact that Match (FIFA’s hospitality wing) dropped huge blocks of bookings a mere 8 weeks before the events started with no remuneration to those concerned. This no doubt left many establishments unable to fill those spots at such short notice.
I know of several establishments in my area who did not go with Match, kept their rates only very slightly elevated above what they would normally charge and as a result were booked up almost the entire period whereas those who stood with empty rooms trying to catch people at R5000 pppn stood empty.
It seems many people were under the illusion that tourists are stupid and don’t know what things cost and really thought they would become rich in a month from World Cup visitors but I think many of them got a nasty surprise indeed.
I really wonder just how many millionaire’s (other than FIFA) the 2010 World Cup Produced.
Know something I don’t or have a great success story please comment about it.
