Local hotels go without World Cup guests

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

For the World Cup does not hold much for Batswana in terms of business, if the state of affairs in the hospitality industry is any yardstick.  Initially it was envisaged that many of the overseas soccer fans and tourists travelling to southern Africa for the World Cup, would also flock into Botswana.  It was also expected that some of the countries participating in the World Cup finals, would camp in the country, which is why some of the country's stadiums and hotels were renovated.  But to the disappointment of everyone in the hospitality industry the 2010 World Cup remains a South African and not an African affair.

Cresta Hotels' general manager, Tawanda Makaya, who was speaking through an assistant, said they do not have any World Cup business. To them it will just be normal business because they have not recorded an increase in bookings in their hotels as a result of the World Cup.  A manager at one of the Cresta hotels in Gaborone, also lamented that they have not received tourists from Europe and the United States of America (US) passing through Botswana on their way to South Africa for the soccer show piece.  'We have no business at all.  There have been no applications for room reservations,' he said.  'I think even the other hotels are going to tell you the same story,' he said.

The marketing manager of Cumberland Hotel in Lobatse, Kgalalelo Mailosi, said they were not having sleepless nights because they were targeting the World Cup for a change in their fortunes.  But she said since they are closer to the South African border, they might land some World Cup business.  'So we are keeping our fingers crossed,' she added.