2010 action plan ‘almost ready’

IT was announced at the National Tourism Conference, which ended last week in Sun City, that the government’s 2010 Tourism Action Plan is nearing completion. The plan has been 12 months in the making and follows information gathered on fact-finding missions to Germany, the host nation for the 2006 World Cup, as well as research into likely tourism demands. The research has revealed gaps that need to be filled: accommodation shortages of more than 10 000 beds in all host cities except Cape Town, Durban and Rustenburg; the public transport network has to be expanded; and there is an urgent need for additional skills and training. “To complete the plan by the end of November, which remains our goal, we need more information from provinces and from industry about the specific strategies to move from the supply analysis to a final implementation plan,” said tourism minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk. Also speaking at the conference was ceo of the 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee, Danny Jordaan, who downplayed concerns that SA's preparations were going slowly. He said that South Africa had signed contracts with five major companies such as Adidas to participate in the World Cup. South Africa has only three years to get to ready for 2010 as Fifa expects everything to be done by 2009 when it conducts its pre-games inspection. (Darren Sandras)