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World Cup to benefit the poor

The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa will create much-needed tourist jobs in deprived parts of the country, says Mmatsatsi Marobe, CEO of The Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

She says visitors to South Africa tend to stay in cities and don’t travel out to rural areas where jobs and income are most needed.

And she urges tourist businesses such as game lodges to make greater efforts to source local goods.

Buying local products such as candles, food and crafts will generate sustainable incomes for some of Africa’s poorest people.

“Business has a duty to source responsible goods,” she says.