Reasonably priced accommodation IS available over the World Cup in South Africa.

There have been runaway rumours over the last few months regarding excessive pricing over the World Cup period in South Africa. International headlines have remarked on South African businesses trying to make a quick and easy buck over the Football World Cup to be held here in June and July this year.

Following the recent worldwide recession, rumours and bad experiences with overpriced accommodation over the World Cup have discouraged football fans from travelling to South Africa to support their teams. And this, the fear of losing out now and in the future, has prompted the tourism industry in South Africa to take action.

Cape Info survey shows that the majority of accommodation has not raised their World Cup Prices.

Cape Info has conducted a survey, endorsed by Cape Town Toursim, of accommodation establishments in the Western Cape and around the country which has shown that although a small percentage (just over 5%) are raising their prices more than 100% over the World Cup period, the majority (over 55%) of establishments surveyed are charging the same or less than their normal high season rates.

In order to highlight these “good guys” who aren’t taking advantage of the average football fan by raising their prices unfairly, Tourism Update have launched a “2010 Good Guys List” of accommodation providers over the World Cup.

The list includes all levels of luxury but mostly smaller establishments like boutique hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s around the country. The majority of the places listed have not raised their regular prices. Kate Els of Tourism Update, mentions that the list was originally designed for use by the tourism industry so some of the prices may be special trade rates, “ but members of the public can at least be assured that they are not ‘getting ripped off’ if they choose to book with any of the suppliers.”

Tourism Update will be updating the list three times a week until the start of the World Cup to ensure it is as current as possible. So it is worth checking it regularly if you are looking for somewhere to stay in South Africa for the World Cup.

The Good Guys list includes many former MATCH affiliated hotels and guest houses. The official accommodation arm for the World Cup, who have been accused of forcing up prices and creating a perceived scarcity of rooms, have recently released 31% of their room nights and are expected to release more on 10 April 2010. This means more accommodation is becoming available to the public and prices are coming down.

As Kate Els of Tourism Update said, “Pricing appears to be regulating in more recent months and our 2010 Good Guys table is a great indicator that there is great product out there at incredibly reasonable prices for all aspects of the market. In the words of Brett Dungan, CEO of FEDHASA “Those properties that have tried to take advantage will only end up with expensive empty rooms over the period of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.””

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• 1. Great Article with some useful tips for affordable accommodation!
  

  
  RobyndeJager

  March 1st, 2010 at 3:33pm

  

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• 2. It's great to know that local suppliers and tour operators are keeping their costs down - seeing that longevity in the tourism industry and sustainable business practices are MORE likely to see return visitors, rather than making a quick buck that might have no future ROI.
  These local Cape Town guys are doing things right: Cape Town Day Tours are a local tour outfit dedicated to day tours in and around Cape Town, and they are keeping their prices down during the World Cup - having the foresight that return travel is based on a holistically successful World Cup - which means more than the soccer.
  Well done to them! Anyone know anyone else who should make the '2010 Good Guys List'?
  

  
  kimberoo

  March 1st, 2010 at 3:36pm

  

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• 3. Very informative article......
  

  
  Jako CPT

  March 1st, 2010 at 4:03pm

  

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• 4. Keep an eye on www.sanparks.org, the SA National Parks Board, if you're looking for accommodation in Kruger Park over the world cup - MATCH are about to release more accommodation to the public.
  

  
  emmagass

  March 4th, 2010 at 10:00am

  

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• 5. I see they haven't added any "Good Guy" airlines yet.
  So if you're looking for domestic flights during the World Cup, I'd recommend checking out kalula.com. According to their marketing executive, Heidi Brauer, ""It's our policy to rather add more flights than to rely on pushing prices up. If you compare the prices of domestic flights during the tournament, our prices are the lowest, finished and klaar. We invite consumers to compare fares for themselves and we challenge all airlines to reduce their prices,"
  

  
  SandraMallinson

  March 8th, 2010 at 11:57am

  

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