South Africa Getting Real(istic)

It’s Symbolic

Going to South Africa? You’re not alone.

But not by much.

South Africa has been expecting throngs of visitors to grace its country this summer with their presence and, more importantly, their money. It’s a well worn story in the media that the people aren’t exactly lining up to enter the country, but just how short the lines are just three months from the start of the competition is probably making Sepp s**t in his shorts.

The South African government had originally expected to attract 450,000 visitors for the summer soiree but so far only about 100,000 international air tickets into the country have been sold. Oof. That’s not good.

Estimates for visitors have been cut to 350,000 and the size of the expected economic impact has been cut in half—a boost in the GDP of only .5% (down from a full 1%). Of course, for the locals, the massive evaporation of global wealth has to be the culprit. Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile told a group of reporters late last week: “When the World Cup was awarded to us in 2004, the economic situation was completely different. We have to revisit those projections and be realistic.”

That’s probably part of the equation. People with no money can’t afford to travel. The other part is likely the perceived price-gouging by the entirety of the South African hospitality industry. There are people with some money that want to travel but are currently priced out as airfares to South Africa are up as high as 300% year-over-year, and hotels have similarly seen a rise in prices.

To that end, the company FIFA contracted for ticket and hotel accommodation services for the World Cup has given back the rights to more than 450,000 nights of hotel rooms due to lack of demand.

So, if you’re going to South Africa this summer, you might have the place almost to yourself. That could make for an awesome time as there will be no lines to pee when you’re loaded after your team wins, or it could just make you a more visible target.