Durban - The tourism industry's preparations for the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa are set to dominate discussions at Africa's largest tourism fair starting Saturday in the port city of Durban.

More than 13,000 tourism industry professionals and media representatives from across the world are expected to attend the four-day Indaba, which focuses mainly on tourism in southern Africa.

South Africa's preparedness to host the World Cup in a little over a year, as well as the test event, the eight-nations Confederations Cup, next month, will be in the spotlight at this year's Indaba.

Senior officials from world football body FIFA will be attending the fair, where the impact of the global economic recession on the tournament is expected to be a key talking point.

South Africa is maintaining its target of 400,000 visitors at the World Cup, despite signs that the recession is leading to a fall-off in tourism globally.

"The fans, they will come," FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke assured media in South Africa recently.

The government of Africa's largest economy is hoping the World Cup will boost tourist arrivals to 10 million in 2010, up from a record 9.6 million in 2008. (dpa)