The hospitality industry in Cape Town has experienced significant growth in recent years, and this upward trend is expected to continue in the near future, as despite a worldwide recession, as the citywide and country wide efforts to further development strengthen with the rising hopes surrounding the Soccer World Cup 2010.

As the world began to discover the true potential of South Africa, whether for business or leisure purposes, the number of visitors to the country increased. The most recent data indicate that South Africa as a single country surpassed the world and the whole African continent in terms of growth in international arrivals, posting healthy increases of about 14%in 2006 and 9% in the year-to-date period through October 2007 compared to the corresponding months of 2006. In addition, South Africa was ranked one of the top 25 tourist destinations in the world according to the 2006 data gathered by the World Tourism Organization.

The countries ranked in the Western Cape's top three source markets are the United Kingdom, Germany, and somewhat surprisingly the United States. The United States has only in the recent period ranked in the top three due to the distance, time and cost associated with travelled to the tip of the African continent.

The increasingly strong presence of European and US travellers to the Western Cape Region is indicative of the potential growth in demand for internationally recognized branded hotels.

A significant number of new developments and infrastructural expansions are currently underway in the major cities of South Africa ahead of 2010.

Refurbishment of existing stadiums and building of new ones continues in South Africa, as well as upgrades to infrastructure such as airports. Meanwhile, many smaller enterprises, such as guesthouses and restaurants, are preparing to host the world.

"The hotel sector in South Africa is first-rate," the Fifa inspection team said in its country report. "There are enough hotel rooms to accommodate everyone taking part in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, including media representatives and fans from around the world, both in the main towns ... and in the other towns suggested as 2010 Fifa World Cup venues."

With world class restaurants, hotels and wine farms and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, South Africans are right to be upbeat about this event and their hospitality offering in general.