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England fans planning trip of a lifetime to World Cup 2010
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Business Editor10.09.09
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Travel agents today reported a surge in bookings to watch England in the World Cup next summer after Fabio Capello's team booked its place in South Africa.
England's storming 5-1 victory over Croatia at Wembley last night guaranteed qualification for the sport's biggest tournament.
Hundreds of travel packages, starting from about £2,500 for a one-match trip, had been sold even before the Croatia game but thousands more are expected to be snapped up over the next few weeks as enquiries and bookings started to fly in this morning.
Fans were warned that packages are likely to sell out quickly.
Gallery: Joy for fans as England qualify for World Cup
"I wouldn't expect anything left by Christmas," said one senior travel executive.
Flights in and out of South Africa around the time of the World Cup, which runs from 11 June to 11 July, are already scarce and rapidly rising in price because of pre-emptive block bookings by major tour operators such as Thomas Cook and Thomson.
Hotels in cities where matches are being held, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria and Durban, are filling fast.
Nathan Wilson, managing director of Thomson Sport, said the company had sold about 15 per cent of its packages before the Croatia game and this figure is certain to show a "substantial uplift" over the coming days, he said.
A handful of packages costing £8,779 - covering all seven potential England games over the course of a month - have already sold out although more are due to be released.
Fans will not know which countries England will play against in the group stage or where the games will take place until the draw is held on 4 December.
However, tour operators believe few committed fans will take the risk of booking that late.
The two main operators have chosen different centres as their bases with Thomson opting for Cape Town and Thomas Cook going for Johannesburg, closer to most of the venues.
Cape Town, a major travel destination in its own right, is likely to appeal more to fans who want to make their "once in a lifetime" trips proper holidays, according to Mr Wilson.
However, that will involve internal flights as six of the 10 venues are clustered around Johannesburg in the north-east of the country.
Johannesburg has a reputation as one of the world's most dangerous cities but it will attract the die-hard fans who are less concerned about South Africa's other attractions and simply want to be within driving distance of games.
Danny Talbot, managing director of Thomas Cook Sport, said: "With many supporters looking to be with the team during the competition we're anticipating that demand for our packages will be very high."
Gallery: Joy for fans as England qualify for World Cup
Reader views (9)
Will this be the last time England plays in a world cup before being broken up into Regional Assemblies?
- William, Hay~Heath UK
Should also give several members of the England squad enough time to learn and sing the words to our National Anthem.
- Mike, Herts
Been there, seen it and watched John Terry and his band of "INVINCIBLES" blubbing like three-year-olds. Not a pretty sight!
- Ted, London
The country looks forward to the election and the end of the Nu Labor experiment.
- Georgie, Islington, London
He'll be the only Scot cheering England on.What a moron that bloke really is.
- Eddie, London
Cue media overhype of the team, bigging them up massively, putting enormous pressure on them and then the inevitable backlash when we fail to win.
- Bob, Cheam
Keep politics out of sport. If England always say they are as good as they say they are then a win is nothing out of the ordinary and not worth celebrating. Its a job of work.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon
What's England got to do with him?He merely 'works' here.By rights he should be sending his commiserations to Scotland in their hour of need.
- Steve, London
Good old McBroon, always ready to respond to the important issues of the day.
What.
A.
Buffoon.
- St, London
