The South will host five cup games in 2011, with three of the games to be played in Dunedin and two in Invercargill.
At a Rugby World Cup 2011 announcement in Auckland yesterday, Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden outlined the venues for the 40 pool matches.
Tourism Dunedin chief executive Hamish Saxton said having five pool games south of the Waitaki was a "wonderful opportunity" for the region to promote all it had to offer.
"I would say that having Scotland, England and Ireland is going to divert a lot of attention to this region and give us a great opportunity to showcase what we have."
It was a chance for the whole region to play "host", as he expected supporters as well as the teams themselves would venture from the cities in which they were playing games to explore what the rest of the region had to offer.
The hard work that had gone into securing the games needed to be acknowledged, he said.
Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, who was at the announcement yesterday, said it was great Dunedin had secured the three games and the city would play host to have four out of the six Six-Nations sides.
"That gives us two-thirds of the Six Nations teams in the South, and tied in with the two games in Invercargill we are going to get a real home nations feel," Mr Chin said yesterday from Auckland.
Mr Snedden said the Dunedin games would be played at Carisbrook but if the new stadium was built then they would be very happy to play there.
Mr Chin said things were looking reasonably promising in terms of the stadium being built, and the announcement gave the project further drive.
"Now that we know the matches we are going to get . . . it is all looking very positive now."
The hosting of teams by regions would not be announced until the end of the year, but Mr Chin said it would be good to host Scotland for reasons of ancestry.
There are 13 venues hosting pool matches from the 16 venues which applied.
Tauranga, Mt Smart Stadium, in South Auckland, and Queenstown missed out.
Mr Snedden said Queenstown would benefit from the influx of visitors.
"I think during the Lions tour, outside the three main centres, Queenstown was the place which enjoyed the biggest economic benefit.
"This tournament is not all just about the playing of rugby."
Mr Snedden said Queenstown, for a variety of reasons, was always fighting an uphill battle to host games.
Mr Sneddon pointed to a modest capacity, not being a traditional rugby venue, a huge upgrade required in operational requirements, and close proximity to Invercargill and Dunedin, which were hosting games, as factors in Queenstown not getting a game.
Despite his disappointment at the outcome, Queenstown Lakes Mayor Clive Geddes said he was "naturally delighted with the news" and Queenstown Lakes district "will reap other rewards".
He had "no doubt" Queenstown Lakes district would see enormous economic benefits from the series and the proximity of the five Southern games.
The combination of the Queenstown Events Centre and the new Queenstown Aquatic Centre meant the resort was "ideally placed to host any of the world's top teams".
"We would expect to host at least one top team in our district and we know from experience the district will be a big drawcard for supporters," Mr Geddes said.
Mr Snedden said ticket prices had yet to be set but he said for the vast majority of the 40 pool matches prices would be modest, and would not be seen as an impediment for most people to see matches.
Kick-off times had not been set.
He had a funny feeling it would not be difficult to fill grounds in regional centres, but would be more difficult to fill big stadiums in the bigger centres for games not involving the All Blacks.
There was a fear in Australia in 2003 and France in 2007 the populations would not be interested in any other teams apart from their home sides, but this did not eventuate and he was confident New Zealand would be the same.
Mr Snedden reminded everyone the kick-off for the tournament was 911 days away.
