There’s been a bit written locally about how successfully hosting the World Cup might change South Africa’s image overseas. Has it, for anyone on the Dope? Has seeing the World Cup or any coverage made you more likely to choose SA as a travel destination?
It’s changed my image of South Africa, but not really the likelihood I’d go there. I visited Botswana once as a boy, and most of the Things To Do I associate with South Africa beyond the wildlife (sandy beaches, nodding palms, etc.) I can find in equal quantities much closer to home.
If cost wasn’t an issue - let’s say South Africa magically reappeared about where Cuba is tomorrow - then yes, certainly.
Nope. I never want to hear the ESPN Lion King theme music every again!
No, but that’s because I’ve been there before and would be happy to return World Cup or not.
After the whole vuvuzela thing I pretty much never want to go there.
I don’t travel much. There are many places I’d travel to before hitting S.A., so, no, I’m not more likely.
Joe
Since I paid minimal attention to the World Cup, nope! Also, I already wanted to go there.
No. International travel, if I ever get the chance to do it, is likely to be a once in a lifetime thing for me. There’s too much I want to see in Europe to spend my once in a life time trip in South Africa.
Seriously? Why? Do you think we wander the streets blowing them at all hours of the night?
Gosh, I hope so.
New footage has cleared up the Zidane headbutt incident in the 2006 World Cup.
Sound muted for benefit of non-South Africans.
Not taking any chances.
I watched almost all of the games but not any of the associated programmes that may or may not have been shown about South Africa.
I never had any plans to visit there before and I don’t have any now.
When I travel abroad I tend to go to places in Europe which interests me much more.
Not really; before, I would have visited if I was going under specific conditions. Now, I would visit under the same kind of conditions.
For example, years ago I was involved in a corporate project which included a SA factory: I would have loved to go there, because it would have been visiting a specific area with people I already knew and liked. I don’t like be-bussed-around trips and SA doesn’t sound like a place I’d want to drop by without a guide either.
With the law and order issues unchecked going there was never on my horizon. And it is only a few hours flight for me.
With their vuvuzelas they spoiled the world cup for millions of fans . This shows their attittude and / or the ineptitude of their government. I will not do business with them.
However I would travel on a guided tour and visit all the wildlife resrves . Ialways wanted to eat exotic meat (legally allowed ).
There is still far too much crime there for my taste, I understand that the authorities had a clamp down on perps for the duration of the W.C.; but without the worlds spotlight on events I expect the situation to return to normal.
That said I would not be stunned with amazement if I end up there for a while in the future.
Nah, if I were suddenly to become rich, **certainly **South Africa would be on the wish list, but it wouldn’t be related to the football thing. The only World Cup effect was that I did wonder to what extent local people would actually benefit, as I’m sure I read articles about people being “rehoused” and local traders told not to sell their soft drinks or snacks near stadia as everything was to be done by particular chosen companies. Hmmm.
I think the “image overseas” is broadly “very beautiful country with problems of social inequality and rather scary crime figures. And a pretty flag and a nice national anthem and lions and elephants and stuff”. Now, when I rob a bank and decide to visit, I’ll read up on it and learn more, but that’s my vague image and I imagine one shared by a lot of people. It beats me why the World Cup would make people more or less likely to visit, BUT, as I realise even as I type, I am thinking “oh, yes and if I were to go to South Africa, perhaps I could also go to Botswana because of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency…” and I am forced to admit that all sorts of weird thing affect people’s choices. :smack: 
RATS! Now I want to win the damn lottery and go to South Africa.
The former was alleged to have happened to homeless/vagrant types in Cape Town, and at the city’s behest, but the latter is the result of the draconian controls that FIFA enforces when it agrees to use your city as a host venue.
The LOVE of my life, well long ago anyway, lives there and I’d to this day have a VERY hard time not dropping everything going on in my life and NOT getting on the next available flight if she asked. World Cup or not … I’ve priced flights there many times with a dopey grin on my face the each time …