Lions boost SA economy
The British & Irish Lions tour generated R1.47 billion to the South African economy.
The figure of R1.47 billion was drawn from direct and indirect value to the travel and tourism gross domestic product (GDP) of South Africa. A study commissioned by SA Rugby showed that the tour produced 8.95% of South Africa’s GDP, compared to 2008.
‘A Lions Tour ranks only behind the Rugby World Cup in terms of its scale and appeal,’ said Andy Marinos, acting MD of SA Rugby, in a statement. ‘Such a tour places significant demands on a rugby union and its member unions but also brings many benefits.
‘One of the most profound is the economic impact it has on the hosting nation. Preparing, hosting and moving around large numbers of rugby fans is a complex exercise but the most pleasing thing is that the large number of overseas visitors had an outstanding experience in South Africa.’
Two of the three Tests weren’t sell-outs and although Lions tour project manager Andre Homan expected before the tour that 50 000 visitors would stay for three weeks, only 37 000 British and Irish tourists entered the country. The survey was conducted among 812 overseas and South African rugby followers and found that supporters spent on average R44 622 during the series and stayed for an average of 16 days.
‘A Lions Tour is a win-win for all concerned,’ said Marinos. ‘The host nation’s economy benefits, the travelling supporters have an unforgettable experience to see the most keenly contested rugby there is and the tour is a financial success for the Lions, the host union and the provincial unions, sponsors and broadcasters.’
November 20th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Well we know it wasn’t through ticket sales…
November 20th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Wonderful news, and if only 37000 supporters boosted the economy like that, imagine what the soccer WC will do.
November 20th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
wow great news for sa
November 20th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I thought the Lions series was brilliant. That Lions team was very very and that was the best centre combo i have ever seen, Jamie Roberts/Bod.
November 20th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
*sigh* And we could have had the Olympics and next RWC as well. Big loss for us.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
That was 1 event. Add to that the t20 at about the same time. Good time for tourism
November 20th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
How long is Andy still going to be “acting” MD? and why don’t they appoint a person or Andy permanently.
November 20th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
#4 race of tan: just started watching rugby this year have we?
November 20th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
South Africa’s GDP in 2008 was about 2100 billion Rand.
R1.47 billion Rand is not 8% of GDP!!
Pretty sloppy reporting not to pick up on such a gross misrepresentation.
Interesting that this report was “commissioned by SA Rugby”.
What a joke.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
#9 sean123:
8% of the tourism gdp…
November 20th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
#9 sean123: Well done! Most journos absolutely suck at maths and economics. Here’s more evidence, in case any was needed.
November 20th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
#11 TheTackler:
read the article again numbnuts…
November 20th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Please accept my humble apology.
November 20th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Hey, this article was emailed to me, and originally it stated “8.95% of South Africa’s GDP”
November 20th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
i wonder what the fool tackler has to say now, ffs this guy is the julius malema of the blog.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
#15 Transformation:
the devil is in the details….the problem is that when tackler sees a chance to nail sa he gets such a hard on that all the blood flows from his big head to the little one…
November 21st, 2009 at 3:30 am
“A study commissioned by SA Rugby showed that the tour produced 8.95% of South Africa’s GDP, compared to 2008.”
Clear cut, isn’t it?
There’s the claim. On this very thread.
Is it true or false?
November 21st, 2009 at 3:36 am
And, even if it’s only 8.95% of only the “travel and tourism” component of the GDP figures, we all know that this is a complete thumb-suck. Every Mozambican, Basotho or Zimbabwean day-shopper or even the odd few million illegal fence-crawlers are counted as part of the “travel and tourism” budget.
We all know that, don’t we?
November 21st, 2009 at 9:20 am
#17 TheTackler: #18 TheTackler: tackler you’re what they refer in isiXhosa as umnqundu! you first read that it was a sample from the “travel & tourism gross domestic product (GDP)” then when the next line refers to the acronym GDP you suddenly think it means something else. Good thing you left this country we don’t need k@k like you here!