Fan Arrivals Beat Estimates
Source: Agencies |
July 3, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE World Cup in South Africa has attracted far more foreign fans than expected, adding to revenue and the already sizable long term benefit of a successful tournament, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said yesterday.
A relatively trouble-free competition, dispelling earlier fears criminals would target visitors, has helped lure more soccer fans, particularly from South America.
"The numbers already indicate that the numbers of people coming to this country are far higher than anybody thought," Gordhan told reporters at the Soccer City stadium that will host the final match on July 11.
"At one stage we were talking about 300 and something thousand and then down to 250,000 and probably we're closer to the 500,000 figure now. In June alone, there were about 200,000 people that came in ... that's where the revenue would come in."
Fans have largely been safe, with no major incidents of violent crime and games over the past three weeks have been well attended.
A relatively trouble-free competition, dispelling earlier fears criminals would target visitors, has helped lure more soccer fans, particularly from South America.
"The numbers already indicate that the numbers of people coming to this country are far higher than anybody thought," Gordhan told reporters at the Soccer City stadium that will host the final match on July 11.
"At one stage we were talking about 300 and something thousand and then down to 250,000 and probably we're closer to the 500,000 figure now. In June alone, there were about 200,000 people that came in ... that's where the revenue would come in."
Fans have largely been safe, with no major incidents of violent crime and games over the past three weeks have been well attended.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
