2010 will showcase SA's hospitality sector

Cape Town - The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ will present the South African hospitality industry with the greatest opportunity to showcase developments in the industry.

This is according to a veteran of the sector, David Clifton, who is the managing director of Interval International for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia.

"It's a perfect opportunity to showcase developments in the industry and to showcase the country. [There will be] millions of tourists visiting and the world cup will give us an opportunity to show that them that the government and the community can deliver," said Mr Clifton, who has been in the industry since the 1970s.

Addressing the first Hospitality Investment Conference Africa (HICA) held in Cape Town on Tuesday, he said depending on the success of the world cup, the future would be "unbelievably bright" for the local industry.

He described the tourism sector as undergoing a major revitalisation and that South Africa, a country which has played a vibrant role in the industry, would certainly also feel this.

"South Africa is ready for the new era as there is an emerging middle class who want quality and higher-end products."

The major shift in the hospitality industry is coming through via the mixed use of hotels where there is fractional as well as time share ownership within a high-quality hotel group.

"Hotel companies you're familiar with will be regenerating products or bringing new products in into great locations."

A trend has also developed among the baby boomers, the generation who are 60 or turning 60-years-old at the moment, who are seeking holidays which offer more city and cultural life as opposed to beach holidays.

Mr Clifton said while beach destinations remain the number one request from consumers, there was an increase in those seeking shorter breaks closer to the city.

Jean-Claude Barmgarten, President of the World Travel and Tourism Council said that despite major disasters, both natural and man-made, the travel and tourism industry continued to grow.

He said while the travel and tourism industries created jobs and wealth, they could also play a crucial role in making the planet a safer and cleaner place to live.

The conference was organised by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

Chairman of the TBCSA Management Board, Thabiso Tlelai said for Africa, fragmentation was a serious impediment to the continent's hospitality industry growth.

"If we remain separate and fragmented as we are at this stage, it will take a long time before we realise our economic growth and the idea of bringing the standards of living of our people to acceptable levels will just remain a dream," he told delegates.

Mr Tlelai said that much change was still needed and the key was for all Africans to be proactive about change.

"We have a responsibility to drive it and to deal with it, rather than simply waiting for change to happen."

He warned that the tourism and hospitality stakeholders should keep in mind that tourism is not a cohesive industry.

"It revolves around many different types of businesses such as airlines, boats, bus companies, hotels, attractions, car hire, festivals and events, tour guides, retailing, sightseeing destinations, construction companies, architects, investors and the list is seemingly endless.

"It is therefore imperative that everyone must feel involved in the process of devising and implementing a strategy if it is to be credible and effective."