First Netball World Cup in S. Africa to boost tourism

JOHANNESBURG, March 8 (Xinhua) -- As preparations for the 2023 Netball World Cup to be hosted on South African soil get underway, economists said the event will likely benefit the host's economy in the long run and boost its tourism.

This week, International Netball Federation (INF) announced that South Africa will become the first African nation to host the tournament.

Dawie Roodt, senior economist at Efficient group, told Xinhua on Friday that "there are without a doubt benefits like tourism but in the medium and long term there will be other benefits because you don't get benefits all at once. In tourism, you'll start getting people to visit a year or two years later."

Roodt's sentiments are shared by Prof Jannie Rossouw, head of Wits School of Economics and Business Science.

"People will visit South Africa to watch the tournament and from that perspective we will attract additional tourists. At the same time, people will stay longer and return for follow up visits," he said.

Government's spokeswoman Phumla Williams said the INF's announcement was a vote of confidence on South Africa ability, saying "this showcases South Africa's ability to host world class across a number of sports, which also opens avenue for economic benefits."

The tournament will be held over two weeks in Cape Town, featuring 16 teams.

South Africa is also the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010.