World Cup draw! Surge in bookings means 2010 trips may be sold out by Christmas

Tour operators have reported a surge in bookings over the weekend since the draw for the 2010 World Cup was made on Friday.

Football fans keen to catch England playing in South Africa are snapping up packages offered by official tour operators nominated by FIFA.

One company has reported a manic three days saying they are receiving ten times as many calls as before the draw and other companies expect to be sold out by Christmas.

Getting the ball rolling: The World Cup draw on Friday caused a surge in bookings from fans over the weekend

Tom Miller, senior sales operator for BAC Sport said: 'We have already had to buy new stock this morning as we have been selling out.

'Luckily our bases are in Cape Town and Rustenburg which are both destinations where England are playing.'

Thomson Sport has had an equally busy weekend, mainly down to the fact that it will also be basing fans in Cape Town.

Managing director Nathan Wilson said: 'We took a risk basing ourselves in Cape Town as the other official tour operators chose Johannesburg as their base near many of the 2010 stadiums.

'But now they are increasing the prices of their packages to fly England fans to the matches and our accommodation is in the heart of it all. Cape Town is not only the best place for England fans to be based but a safe and interesting tourist destination as well.

'As a result we have sold well over 50 per cent of our stock and the majority of our packages for the later stages.

'Group stage packages are definitely still available costing around £2,450. But if it continues like this we could be sold out by Christmas.'