South Africa and Mozambique hope to turn the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and the Lubombo Trans-frontier Conservation Area into prime tourism spots for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

South Africa and Mozambique hope to turn the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and the Lubombo Trans-frontier Conservation Area into prime tourism spots for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said on Tuesday that the two countries were looking at what infrastructure was needed to make the areas more accessible to tourists. He was speaking at the conclusion of an economic bilateral commission between South Africa and Mozambique, held in Tshwane.

"We looked at how to prepare ourselves as a region to make sure that by 2010 we have the necessary supporting infrastructure," he said.

The commission, which was headed by President Thabo Mbeki and his Mozambican counterpart President Armando Guebuza, received reports on work already under way on these projects.

These include the construction and repair of landing strips for aircraft and infrastructure development in the conservation areas and parks. Mpahlwa said similar incentives were under way with South Africa's other neighbours.

South Africa shares the Ai-Ais Richtersveld Trans-frontier Park with Namibia, the Kgalagadi Trans-frontier Park with Botswana, the Limpopo Shashe Trans-frontier Conservation Area with Botswana and Zimbabwe, and the Maloti-Drakensberg Trans-frontier Conservation and Development Area with Lesotho. - Sapa