BERLIN/WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - As the FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, it is not just the teams hoping for success. The tourism industry is also looking toward the tournament with high expectations. The USA anticipates the best-attended World Cup in history, Nick Adams, U.S. tourism official, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

'Nobody puts on a spectacle like America.' The U.S. is preparing for an event on the scale of 78 Super Bowls, Adams said. The Super Bowl is the championship game of the American football league, the NFL. The country is well-versed in hosting major international events.

All recent data point to rising demand. Airlines have added approximately one million additional seats on routes between Europe and the U.S. between June and October due to expected demand, Adams said, citing figures from service provider Cirium. Furthermore, visitors are expected to spend about five percent more than last year.

The world football governing body expects around 6.5 million visitors in the stadiums, with about 40 percent coming from abroad. Tourism forecasts are promising, according to FIFA. But what does a World Cup actually bring to tourism?

Fans arrive, vacationers pivot

Jürgen Schmude, President of the German Society for Tourism Research, considers the expectations for major events to be fundamentally understandable. 'Major sporting events definitely have an impact on tourism - primarily through strong demand from fans and supporters of the participating teams.'

At the same time, Schmude calls for a nuanced view of visitor numbers. World Cup guests cannot simply be added to the total: 'Regular tourists are displaced or choose other destinations during this period.'

Schmude sees cost as the decisive factor in travel decisions. 'When airfare is expensive and hotel prices rise sharply, it deters many travelers.' Prices are among the most discussed topics ahead of the World Cup. Adams counters this, stating that organizers are striving for the most affordable offers possible - both for flights and tickets. Tickets for World Cup matches are available for less than 300 U.S. dollars (around 260 euros). Fan representatives, however, criticize the prices as being far too high.

The billions behind the tournament

FIFA expects high-spending guests. According to estimates by the world governing body, a visitor spends an average of 416 U.S. dollars per day during the tournament (around 360 euros). Furthermore, FIFA assumes that tourists stay for an average of twelve days and attend two matches. The influx of visitors is expected to trigger economic momentum in the billions, benefiting hotels, restaurants, transport companies, and the retail sector.

But what remains once the fans have departed? While short-term economic effects are considered likely, long-term positive consequences are significantly harder to prove, Schmude said. He points to the 2006 'Summer Fairytale' in Germany as a positive example. The World Cup led to a measurable improvement in image, which was also reflected in tourism. However, such developments cannot be easily transferred to other host countries.

A showcase for the USA

For the hosts, the World Cup is not just a sporting event but also a promotional platform. FIFA sees the tournament as an opportunity to promote the host cities as global travel destinations. The tournament is primarily concentrated in the USA: eleven of the 16 host cities are located there, including some of the country's most famous metropolises such as New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Despite a decline in visitor numbers, the United States was the most popular long-haul destination for Germans last year, according to the German Travel Association (DRV). Based on booking figures to date, this is expected to remain the case this year.

The great rush fails to materialize

The DRV cannot quantify how many travelers from Germany are flying to North America specifically for the World Cup. However, a booking boom is not evident. Demand for U.S. travel in the tour operator market remains below the previous year's level for the summer. Although the decline has recently slowed, the association does not speak of a turnaround.

The industry's second-largest player, Dertour, does not sell travel packages including World Cup tickets. However, those who already possess tickets can have individual offers put together. According to the company, demand is currently concentrated primarily on such trips. Combinations of flights, hotels, and additional stays in North America are particularly sought after. Demand is developing steadily.

'We are the most hospitable country in the world'

Reporting on the political situation as well as reports of problems with entry into the USA had already caused uncertainty among travelers last year, Dertour stated. 'Accordingly, a certain restraint continues to be observed.'

The U.S. tourism official sees no reason for this. Anyone who applies for an ESTA authorization in good time can expect a smooth entry, Adams said. 99.9 percent of visitors are warmly welcomed. 'We are the most hospitable country in the world.'

Unlike traditional vacationers, football fans are often less influenced by political developments or international crises, said tourism scientist Schmude. For them, the experience is the priority. 'Those who absolutely want to see Lionel Messi play are usually not deterred from a trip by geopolitical tensions.'/kge/DP/stk