VOA标准英语2010年-World Cup Expected to Boost South Afri

Organizers of the upcoming football World Cup in South Africa are hoping the event will provide a boost to South Africa's economy and especially to its growing tourism industry.  But at a recent tourism convention in Durban, some operators are expressing mixed expectations.

Football was on everybody's mind at this year's tourism convention in Durban, South Africa.  Many of the exhibits featured football themes, such as this young player bouncing a ball on his head to the beat of an African drum.

The World Cup kicks off on June 11 and organizers expect the month-long tournament to boost South Africa's tourist arrivals to more than 10 million this year.

They also project that the hundreds of thousands of visiting fans will add nearly $2-billion to the economy and create thousands of new jobs.

Siyanda Mbonambi says bookings at his Syavaya Tours are up 45 percent during the Cup.

"A lot of people want to see the African culture, our South African culture," said Mbonambi.  "That is one of our biggest requests.  They want to see our wine lands.  That is a very big one as well.  They want to see Zulu dances."

Elizabeth Mukumba works for Shakaland which invites visitors to experience traditional Zulu culture and dance.  She says the World Cup is helping¹ to fight unemployment.

"It is good for South Africa because they have created jobs for those who did not have jobs," said Mukumba.  "It is definitely good for us."

South Africa's neighbors are also hoping to cash in on some of the excitement.  They hope fans will visit their tourist attractions between matches.

But some operators are less pleased.  Loren Rutherford of Nomad² Adventure Tours says higher air fares to South Africa have hurt her moderately-priced camping safaris³.

"People who are traveling on a budget are not coming because they do not want to spend two times our tour price just on their flights," said Rutherford.  "But also, people are a bit scared away by the soccer types that are coming out as well, I think."

The South African government has invested an estimated $12 billion during the past four years in infrastructure⁴ for the Cup.  Critics say the money could have been better spent alleviating⁵ poverty.

The head of the South African Tourism marketing⁶ group, Thandiwe January-McClean, disagrees.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for us to bring more visitors to our country going into the future, and the World Cup has provided that," said January-McClean.

And Rutherford, like most tourism operators, believes the World Cup will help the economy in the long-term.

"It is good for Africa," added Rutherford.  "I mean the more publicity⁷ that we can have about [South] Africa the better.  Because the more people that understand that we have got fantastic infrastructure and that we are safe and that we are a beautiful country, the better.  Tourism creates jobs and that is the key issue at the end of day."

Many people believe the World Cup will showcase South Africa in a once-in-a-lifetime way, and the new infrastructure is expected to help support the country's growing economy for years to come.

 

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 nomad   

n.游牧部落的人，流浪者，游牧民

参考例句：

• He was indeed a nomad of no nationality.他的确是个无国籍的游民。
• The nomad life is rough and hazardous.游牧生活艰苦又危险。

3 safaris   

n.游猎，陆路旅行（尤指在东非或中非）( safari的名词复数 )；类似游猎的假日旅行

参考例句：

• I've had too many safaris with rich dentists to listen to any more suicidal ideas. 我已经带过太多有钱牙科医生的狩猎队，我不能再听取任何自杀性建议了。 来自电影对白
• Camel diving safaris are a popular attraction in South Sinai. 骆驼的潜水之旅是南西奈一个受欢迎的景观。 来自互联网

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 alleviating   

减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• If it's alleviating pain,who knows what else it's doing? 如果它减轻了疼痛，天知道还影响什么？
• Measuring poverty is not the same as alleviating it, of course. 当然，衡量贫困和减轻贫困是截然不同的。

6 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

7 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。