Manny Pacquiao Philippines’ Athlete of the Decade

The Philippine Sportswriters Association of the Philippines selected Manny Pacquiao as a a hands down winner choice as Athlete of the Decade. The Reigning pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Pacquiao was named as PSA Athlete of the Year five times this decade, having won the coveted plum from 2002 to 2004, in 2006 and 2008. Last year Pacquiao was enshrined to the Hall of Fame in the same award giving body in the Philippines.

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Hotel Accomodation Might Pose a Problem to South Africa’s Hosting of World Cup

There are about half-million visitors that are expected to flock to the South Africa’s capital Johannesburh for the World Cup which is slated at 2010, organisers are doing their best to ensure fans will billeted to enough hotel rooms the in the nation’s capital. The South African winter, a time where tourism is at its low expect prices will soar to six times the normal rates, which can poised a big problems to tourists. This might cause fear that South Africa may foil the chance to market itself very well as tourists might get scared away returning visitors with such high prices. South Africa registered a whopping more than 9 million tourists, as country has more than 200,000 rooms to offer, said Rich Mkhondo, spokesman for the World Cup organisers. However, most of these hotels are located in key cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, and no problems are expected. But smaller host cities such as the northern town of Polokwane and Nelspruit, a gateway to the popular Kruger National Park, might not have enough rooms, especially will poise to host to big games in the World Cup. The Match is truly widenening the spending habits of visitors as guesthouses and bed and breakfasts might be tapped for the first time, where in turn South Africa will be able to aid small businessmen get involved in the game . “This will be the legacy the tournament will leave behind,” Thembi Kunene quipped an employee of the national tourism authority’s hotel grading council. “We are going to improve our small and medium enterprises sector,” he added. Most of the small guesthouses, and even larger hotel chains like Hyatt, are opting not to deal with the hassle of accomodating huge visitors. Small businesses also shun away from the Match having their establishments graded for a star ranking. Hoping to ease overcrowding on the streets, South Africa has modified its school calendar so enable the students will take their mid-year vacation during the World Cup, in other words many local families are also want to get some vistors for rooms to be rented. Many airlines and hotels are advertising rates up to six times higher their normal prices. While mark-up during major events happens everywhere in the world, tourism officials worry that huges rates offered will ruin South Africa’s reputation as a reasonably priced tourist destination. “South Africa is a free market economy and its a supply and demand issue there is nothing we can do about it,” Kunene said and added “We are appealing to people’s capitalism instincts that please don’t overcharge and create a bad name for our country and industry.”