JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's townships are gearing up for a tourist rush during the World Cup next year. B&B owners in nine provinces have developed their own hospitality strategy for the event - without Match Company, FIFA's official hospitality partner for the World Cup, the Cape Argus newspaper reported on Saturday.

    The strategy includes: Cleanliness is the key principle. Launching a website where fans can book and get information on township accommodation. Ensuring that township restaurants and B&Bs are equipped with everything the average soccer fan needs. Developing a plan to ensure visitors are kept safe. The rates per night - including breakfast - will also be the cheapest in the country during the tournament.

    Fiki Fesi, a local B&B owner and the woman behind the plan, said although VIPs and other dignitaries were expected to book into the city's swanky hotels, soccer fans might want to experience Africa and "life in the townships" over the 30 days of the event. "We must make the fans feel at home".

    More than 100 township B&Bs in Cape Town only were preparing to host guests next year.

    "They have all been through my workshops, and are all very professional and offer top-class service," said Fesi. "The workshops were crucial to ensure that the levels of service, cleanliness and comfort are maintained, and that visitors are shown true township hospitality in 2010."

    On safety and security, one of the biggest concerns ahead of the tournament, Fesi said there was "no need for panic".

    "We constantly inform the people in the townships of the benefits of bringing international visitors here," she said.

    Fesi said residents were already comfortable with seeing people of different race groups and cultures in the townships. "In 2010, the fans will be welcomed into the townships," she said.

    Feni developed her own B&B 2010 readiness workshop in which she takes B&B owners through an audit of their establishments, and provides tips on how they can improve their service. "Cleanliness is the key principle," she said.

    "Before a township house is approved as an establishment to host guests for 2010, I personally inspect it to check that the rooms are in good condition, that the beds, mattresses and linen are of good quality, and that the environment is safe," she said.

    Vuyelwa Magitshima, of Khayelitsha, who turned one of her spare rooms into a guestroom for 2010, said: "I'm very excited for the World Cup and will make the visitors' stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible."

    Ncumisa Hlopane, who owns a self-catering, three-bedroom guesthouse in Langa, said the townships would give tourists a good sense of where the South African soccer culture started.

    "We must make the tourists feel that they are in South Africa," she said, adding "If they wanted the Western culture and cuisine, then they would have held the tournament in Europe, but we are in South Africa and we must make the fans feel at home."

    Nomonde Siyaka, the owner of Mzansi restaurant in Langa, said her website had been bombarded with inquiries from overseas fans. "I can't wait for 2010, we are going to show the visitors a good time," she said.

    Vivienne Bervoets, Match's senior accommodation manager, said the company would have been happy to have township B&Bs signed up.

    She pointed out that while Match was responsible for the delivery of the official accommodation solution, they were not the sole accommodation providers for the World Cup, and had no issue with any tourism initiatives being undertaken.