Fans avoid Bloem over prices

Bloemfontein - Overnight establishments in Bloemfontein were on Tuesday urged not to charge over-inflated prices to visitors during the coming Fifa Soccer World Cup, a problem commonto all big sport events in the city.

"People are booking in Kimberley because of high prices," said George Mohlakoana, chief executive officer of the Mangaung local organising committee.

Mohlakoana said over-inflated prices by smaller establishments such as bed and breakfast type accommodations was one of the "problems" authorities had identified in the run up to the Fifa 2010 event.

He was speaking at a Free State tourism breakfast on the province's readiness for the Soccer World Cup, starting in June.

A spokesperson for Free State Tourism, Khotso Thole, confirmed the practice of over-inflated accommodation prices and warned that the "quick buck" practice was hurting the Free State's tourism industry.

The meeting heard about accommodation quotes increasing from several hundred rand to R3000.

It was estimated that Bloemfontein officially had about 12 000 tourism beds and the surrounding areas such as Kimberley, Welkom and Lesotho another 13 000 beds.

Government authorities have launched a campaign inviting Bloemfontein and surrounding homeowners to open their homes to visiting soccer supporters, expecting another 2000 beds to become available.

Other problems experienced with accommodation establishments were that people changing to cheaper accommodation elsewhere were battling to get their money back, at times fully paid at the original service provider.

The situation, already experienced during the earlier Federation Cup Tournament last year, has in the meantime created headaches for tourism authorities in that soccer entertainment-related events needed to be established at all these "satellite" sites.

Mohlakoana said businesses should also review their business hours during the world cup.

"At 7pm, only restaurants are open at the malls in Bloemfontein, it's a problem for the world cup."

- Sapa