The report stated that more than 309,000 foreign tourists entered the country for the tournament, with South Africa also benefiting from a 9% increase in its image as a secure travel destination in comparison with the overall perception before the start of the event.

Of the 309,000 tourists, 38% were from Africa, 24% from Europe, 13% from Central and South America and an impressive 11% from North America. United States fans topped the charts with 30,175 travelling fans, while 24,483 arrived from Mozambique, even though the country’s national team did not qualify for the World Cup.

Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told African Business Review: “More than half of the tourists who had attended other World Cup events in the past also felt that South Africa was a better host than other countries they had experienced.”

The government-commissioned report did not include tournament “pre-spending” in the country.