The 2010 Soccer World Cup is just more than 200 days away, but South Africa is already putting planning into practice. As tourism and urbanization in South Africa continue to expand, requirements for safe and cost-effective ATM locations are on the rise. The World Cup is set to attract large numbers of visitors who will demand cash. Will South Africa be ready?
Marc Sternberg, managing director of independent ATM supplier Spark ATM Systems, says the massive influx of visitors expected to hit South Africa next year "will undoubtedly be a high priority and independent ATMs are bound to be increasingly appreciated":
Traveler-check usage has dropped off in recent years and those visiting South African cities during the World Cup will require plenty of hard cash to spend at hotels, restaurants, bars and other areas of entertainment. As the host country, we need to ensure that we can offer this, as the majority of visitors will be from countries where it is the norm to find independent ATMs readily available. There is a shortage of ATMs in the hubs in and around 2010 stadiums, and we are already seeing demand, which we expect to increase in the months leading up to kickoff.
In South Africa, consumers benefit from ATMs located in smaller towns and rural locations, where banking facilities are limited. In developed countries, such as Australia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, independent ATMs now deliver more than 60 percent of cash dispending services in each country. In South Africa the demand has grown rapidly through tangible benefits for the consumer and vendor, and independent ATMs now represent more than 15 percent of the market.
South Africa's banking system is ranked eighth among countries with a population that exceeds 20 million, ahead of France and Japan.
