World Cup organisers predict South African stadia will be about 95% full for the matches.
Concerns have grown that a combination of long-haul flights from Europe and the recent recession would put football fans off visiting the tournament.
Thandiwe January-McLean, South African Tourism’s chief executive, said the original forecast international visitor target of between 350,000 and 450,000 fans had been revised to 250,000.
However, Jerome Valcke, Fifa’s general secretary, said the association was predicting up to 360,000 foreign visitors, adding: “We will be 95% full (in our stadia) and that’s for sure, it took a long time and it was quite difficult.
“The first two games have sold out, in the 16-team stage there’s no tickets and the semi-finals are sold out too.”
January-McLean added that even if the predicted number of international visitors failed to materialise, organisers were preparing to ensure stadia were full for the games and had a lively atmosphere.
“We are going to fill our stadia,” she said.
“I cannot tell you exactly how many people will come but the people who are here have to have a wonderful experience.”
Valcke also dismissed questions that organisers had considered moving the event over concerns about visitor numbers and the preparations being made.
“There was never a single time where Fifa thought about moving or removing this World Cup from South Africa to another country,” he said.