Mauritius is now one of the five African countries lined up to provide accommodation for visiting fans under the 2010 World Cup Tour Operator Programme.

The accommodation programme is expected to provide a great marketing opportunity for tourism industry in the southern African region.

Lack of formal accommodation has forced the World Cup organisers to look at alternative lodging, including game lodges and guesthouses.

35000 rooms have already been sighed up, and organisers are looking beyond South Africa to fulfil the required 55000 rooms.

Mauritius joins Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique and Namibia in providing accommodation.

World Cup Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan and Mauritian Tourism, Leisure and External Communications Minister Xavier Luc Duval made the announcement at the Tourism Indaba in Durban on the weekend, where the agenda focused on the World Cup.