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.
