Backpacker travel insurance customers may be among those already thinking about a trip to South Africa for the World Cup next year.
According to travel association Abta, the rainbow nation is likely to see a big increase in visitor numbers when it hosts the global football tournament.
Sean Tipton, a spokesperson for the travel body, said there are already around 650,000 British tourists visiting South Africa every year.
In the run up to the World Cup in 2010, this figure will go "through the roof", he added.
The country is also likely to be a popular destination for winter sun-seekers in forthcoming months, with Monarch Holidays predicting around 70 per cent of its customers will plan a late season getaway.
"This is the time of year that New Zealand and South Africa have their summer so this is when the southern hemisphere becomes very popular for long haul holidaymakers," explained Mr Tipton.
Comprehensive
cheap travel insurance from Downunder when travelling to the Rainbow Nation.
