With the FIFA 2010 World Cup soccer extravaganza happening across South Africa in June, an influx of tourists and fans from all over the globe is expected to bring a wave of enthusiasm - and traffic!

At an FNB Business Dinner recently, Gary Bailey - who was involved in the last two World Cups - presented some issues on World Cup expectations that may affect both your work and personal life:

1. Schools will be closed for almost over four weeks during the World Cup - it was apparently legislated last week. Think about what you’re going to do with your kids.

2. Air tickets to Cape Town (for example) will cost about R8,000 per seat as some flights have to leave same night after the games due to accommodation problems in PLZ/CPT/KZN/BLOEM.

3. Flights will operate 24 hours. Expect NOISE. Expect TRAFFIC around airports all hours.

4. Fresh veggies and fruit will be scarce, if not unavailable, during this time. For the World Cup in Germany, they had to import them.

5. Traffic will increase by about 30% at the times of the games as fans go to the grounds or Fan Parks (games start at 13.30, 16.00 and 2030 hrs). The best time to fly is whilst matches are on!

6. Road areas around stadiums will be closed off.

7. It is expected that 550,000 people will be travelling to/from matches and 100,000 per match day… Expect considerable delays on match days.

8. There will not be parking available at airports, so arrange drop offs.

9. Some 4,800 buses will be operational and there will be restrictions on truckers/hauliers, etc. so you need to plan with clients and especially regarding containers needing haulage.

10. Fan Parks will be a huge attraction and traffic to/from those areas will be extremely congested. At one Fan Park in Germany 500,000 people pitched up, consuming three million sausages and one million litres of beer - among other things - during the events. Think of the logistics!

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRAVEL DURING THIS PERIOD

*Do not travel during these periods unless it is critical to travel.

*Plan your trip well in advance - changes to a ticket over this period will be extremely difficult and very expensive.

*Try to make appointments at a location that is in the opposite direction of a stadium or a Fan Park.

*Take flights during the times when the games are being played. Games start at 13h30.

*Allow for a minimum of two hours to get to the airport in Cape Town and possibly three hours for Johannesburg. The congestion on the roads both to and from the airports is going to be chaotic. Plan for delays.

*Parking at the airport will be virtually impossible and it is advisable to get someone to drop / collect you from the airports. Transfer companies will be busy with tourists and will also be very expensive.

In Short: DON’T travel unless it’s absolutely necessary; stock up on meat/coke/fruit/veggies/bottled water early and enjoy the soccer (on TV, with replays).

WE RECOMMEND . . .

*Have a business continuity plan (BCP) in place so that staff members who live in or around stadium or Fan Park areas can work from home. Hours spent in traffic will be wasted time.

*Use technology as much as possible - have a conference call instead of a meeting; send an e-mail rather than pay a visit. We live in an age where online communications are simple and easy - make sure your staff members have a laptop and a modem.

*Find out where the Fan Parks are and avoid them unless you have to be in the area.

*Set up a ride-share scheme with other people near you to get to work in one vehicle to help reduce congestion on the roads.

*If you are stuck in traffic, try not to let road rage take over. Everyone will be in the same boat. Freeze a couple bottles of water and keep them in your car (to help you keep your cool) and keep a pack of biscuits or another snack handy.

*If you are diabetic or have any other chronic condition, make sure you have an extra supply of your medication with you at all times. You don’t want to be caught without it in a traffic jam.