As Nelson Mandela Bay finally began work on the site of its 2010 World Cup stadium last week, officials announced the city no longer feared any accommodation shortage during the tournament.

Municipal spokesman Roland Williams said construction crews had begun demolition work on the site, including the demolition of the Park Rugby Club, to make way for the R1,1-billion stadium.

"All the demolition work has been completed, and the R86-million that has been received from national government has already been allocated to various components of construction.

"It's really full steam ahead now," said Williams.

Councillor Mike Kwenaite said the World Cup local organising committee (LOC) had advised the city not to start construction of any new guesthouses if it did not need them and could not sustain them after 2010.

"We're not actually calling for any new hotels or guesthouses for the World Cup - we have enough space.

"Obviously anybody who already had plans to set up is more than welcome, but it's all a question of sustainability," said Kwenaite.

"We feel we're well on track for accommodation, but what we need to concentrate on now are the levels of service on offer to tourists."

Peter Myles, director of the Centre for Tourism Studies at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, agreed with Kwenaite.

"At this stage, if you take into account the existing beds, as well as accommodation from outlying areas and private accommodation, I feel we?re pretty safe for 2010. Private accommodation definitely needs to be closely monitored, though, but I would definitely say we seem to have enough room for the projected figure (around 29 000 beds)."

Myles said: "There are obviously other factors that need to be monitored in order to ensure we have enough room.

"We look ready for it, but which teams and which matches we host all play a big part, and they are all being monitored at the moment.

"Other plans will have to be made if we host a team such as Brazil or Germany, but then again if we host some less followed teams we could end up having extra space."

Although the municipality is satisfied it has enough beds for the tournament, it has helped launch a number of tourism businesses in the metro recently.

Friday saw the launch of the three-star, seven-room Rainbow Guest House and Tours, a black-owned participative development initiative (PDI) project in Strelitzia Park, Uitenhage.

The guest house is owned by Nonzwanga Thisani.

"This is one of quite a number of SMMEs for tourism we've helped set up this year, all of whose staff received six months of aggressive training in all aspects of tourism," Kwenaite said at the launch.

"Mrs Thisani's establishment received a three-star grading from our grading council just recently."

Kwenaite said it was "lovely to be able to tie this in with tourism and heritage month".

Eastern Province Herald
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge