Qatar Invests Big in World Cup, Economic Makeover

Qatar is expecting to spend more than $65 billion preparing to host the 2022 World Cup. That investment, however, is aimed more at remaking the country's economy and international position than hosting the tournament.

Qatar will build nine stadiums and refurbish three more and plans to equip each with solar-powered air conditioning to fight temperatures that approach 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in the summer. The sheikdom promised FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, to more than double hotel and apartment rooms to 84,000 and build a $25 billion rail and metro network. South Africa said it spent about $11.4 billion preparing for the 2010 World Cup, or about $232 per person.

“The event is a catalyst for the development and the expansion of the economy and population overall,” said Mark Proudly, associate director at property adviser DTZ Research in Doha.

Qatar Places $65 Billion Bet on Remaking Economy in World Cup Preparation
Bloomberg
December 16, 2010

South Africa Tourism Hike Expected After Cup

Tourism experts expect international tourism to South Africa to pick up as a result of the 2010 World Cup.

Gillian Saunders, director of Grant Thornton Strategic Solutions, said careful targeting could increase the number of overseas visitors to SA by 1.2million over the next five years, instead of the current 2.4million.

Annually, about 9.9million tourists visit SA, of which 7.5million are from the rest of the continent. Overseas visitors mainly come from the UK, US, France and Germany, but they could now also be coming from non-traditional markets like Brazil and China, she said.

World Cup success can open new tourism doors for SA
The Times
July 18, 2010