Air Namibia’s forward bookings at this stage show it cannot expect increased tourism from overseas during the impending FIFA 2010 World Cup, but the airline hopes an increase in South African visitors will make up for the shortfall.

GM Southern Africa, Charmaine Thomé, says bookings during the World Cup are “very quiet”. She says the airline’s feedback from Germany and Austria is that fans from those countries will not attend the World Cup because the flights and accommodation in South Africa are too expensive and because fans will have to travel such long distances to watch the various games. Instead, Namibia is hoping to benefit from the World Cup through South Africans escaping the event. “We are hoping to see an increase from South Africa during this period as it is a cost-effective destination, which offers such diverse activities for families and couples alike,” says Thomé.