South Africa's gross domestic product is expected to grow by 21.3 billion rand (2.13 billion U.S. dollars) as a result of hosting the FIFA World Cup, according to a research by the South African Environmental Affairs and Tourism Department.

Of the projected growth, 12.7 billion rand (1.27 billion U.S. dollars) was attributed to direct investment and 9.5 billion rand to tourist spend.

With around three million tourists expected to visit the country, customer service will be a key component when it comes to attracting and retaining customers during and after the World Cup, said Accenture South Africa in a statement.

Nikki Tyrer of Accenture South Africa said: "These potential customers all have expectations in terms of customer service and value added services will go a long way in meeting these expectations."

To ensure that the event leads to sustainable, long-term benefits, operators and service providers need to develop and implement marketing, sales and service strategies that meet the needs of an intensely diverse consumer base, she said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 6, 2009)