2010 Jobs in the Hospitality Sector
South African Hospitality Sector Gears Up for 2010 Soccer World Cup
South Africa as a whole, and the hospitality industry in
particular, are gearing up for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Hopes are
high for a successful and profitable World Cup, as well as job creation
in the hospitality sector.
Games will be played in Cape Town, Durban,
Johannesburg, Mangaung/Bloemfontein, Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth,
Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenburg, Tshwane/Pretoria between 11 June and
11 July 2010. It is in these areas where much of the job creation will
occur, and construction and development is clearly visible.
It
has been estimated that the 2010 World Cup will create some 129 000
jobs, contribute around R21-billion to the country's gross domestic
product and another R7.2-billion in government taxes, with the 350 000
visitors spending a some R9.8-billion in the country.
The Olympics
too are yet to be held in Africa, so the World Cup will be the largest
sporting event ever held on the African continent. Teams from 32
countries will be cheered by an estimated 2.7-million local spectators
and a global television audience of billions. According to Fifa, the
total cumulative television audience for the 2006 World Cup was
26.3-billion (24.2-billion in-home and 2.1-billion out-of-home
viewers). Assessed in terms of the number of global viewers, the World
Cup is the world's largest sporting event.
South African hospitality
and customer service, in my opinion, having travelled across much of
the world, ranks amongst some of the world’s finest. This is despite
the continued need for further training, education and development
within the sector, as well as the ongoing need to retain young
hospitality graduations within South Africa. Graduates are still
tending to look for international experience upon graduation and are
finding jobs in the UK, but also, increasingly in Dubai and Saudi
Arabia where work permits are organized for them.
Refurbishment
of existing stadiums and building of new ones continues in South
Africa, as well as upgrades to infrastructure such as airports.
Meanwhile, many smaller enterprises, such as guesthouses and
restaurants, are preparing to host the world.
"The hotel sector in
South Africa is first-rate," the Fifa inspection team said in its
country report. " There are enough hotel rooms to accommodate everyone
taking part in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, including media representatives
and fans from around the world, both in the main towns ... and in the
other towns suggested as 2010 Fifa World Cup venues."
Other
options are the many bed & breakfast establishments in and around
all the host cities, and over 150 backerpacker lodges.
With world
class restaurants, hotels and wine farms and some of the most beautiful
scenery in the world, South Africans are right to be upbeat about this
event.
Visit http://www.hospitalityjobsafrica.co.za
for continued news and events leading up to the World Cup as well as
hospitality jobs and training for the hotel and travel industry.
About the Author: Hospitality Consultant in South Africa. Visit: http://www.hospitalityjobsafrica.co.za
10.12.2008. 17:13
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