S. afrikanesch Tourismus Ministère ënnersicht opgeblosen Weltmeeschterschaft Präisser

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s tourism ministry has ordered an investigation into allegations World Cup hotel prices are unreasonably high, the second official probe into possible price gouging linked to the first African edition of soccer’s most prestigious tournament.

The allegations have worried hotel operators and others in South Africa’s tourism business, who called a news conference Tuesday to deny them a day after Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk announced an official investigation.

Membere vum Tourism Business Council vu Südafrika, eng Industriegrupp, soten datt si sécher wieren datt eng onofhängeg Enquête beweist datt déi meescht vun hinnen net goën.

Geschäftsleit hunn d'Südafrikaner gefuerdert net vun de Besucher vun der Weltmeeschterschaft ze profitéieren, a soten datt d'Goging d'Touristen verhënnert zréckzekommen.

Jabu Mabuza, President vum Verwaltungsrot vun Südafrika d'Staat-Besëtz Tourismus Entwécklung Firma a Chef exekutiv vun engem national Hotel- a Casino Kette, sot Südafrika raffinéiert Hoteler huet, Restauranten an Attraktiounen datt déi iwwerall op der Welt rivaliséieren. Hien huet gesot datt d'Strategie war net d'Land als bëlleg ze vermaart, mee als eng Plaz wou e Reesender Wäert fir Suen kritt.

"Et ass zimmlech beonrouegend fir eis ... datt et Leit sinn déi d'Präisser verdräifacht hunn," sot hien zu Reporter viru kuerzem. "Et ass ganz kuerzsiichteg. Ech mengen et ass, éierlech gesot, domm.

No one disputes prices will be higher during the World Cup, but the question is what is reasonable.

"An de leschte Woche hu mir Uschëllegunge festgestallt datt Ënnerkunftsinstituter an der Tourismusindustrie net verantwortlech sinn, a Präisser exzessiv opbléien", sot den Tourismusminister an enger Erklärung e Méindeg. "Bis elo war eisen Androck datt dëst net de Fall ass, awer mir gleewen datt et soll ënnersicht ginn an d'Resultater vun der Enquête ëffentlech gemaach ginn."

D'Spriecherin vum Ministère Ronel Bester sot um Dënschdeg, et wier ze fréi ze soen, wéi eng Moossname getraff ginn, wann d'Präisser ze héich ugesi ginn. D'Enquête gëtt vun enger privater Firma, Grant Thornton, geleet, déi Risikoanalyse, finanziell an aner Servicer fir südafrikanesch Geschäfter ubitt an d'Weltmeeschterschaft wirtschaftlech Trends enk iwwerwaacht huet.

The probe into hotel prices follows an investigation announced late last month into whether South African airlines are colluding to inflate prices during the monthlong World Cup which begins June 11. That investigation is being conducted by the government’s Competition Commission, which is charged with limiting monopolies and has a tribunal with the power to impose fines and other penalties. Keitumetse Letebele, a spokeswoman for the commission, said it was not yet clear when the airline probe would be completed.

An Internet check showed a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town that would cost 870 rand Tuesday would cost 1,270 on a day after the World Cup kicks off. A room at a midrange hotel near Johannesburg’s airport that would cost 1,145 rand Tuesday night would be at least one-third more during the Word Cup.

Tourism business leaders said the higher prices reflect higher demand. They said that even though the World Cup falls during the South African winter, usually the low season, it will be treated as the high season because of the tournament.

Mmatsatsi Marobe, Chef exekutiv vum Tourismus Business Council vu Südafrika unerkannt "sporadesch" Fäll vu Goging, awer betount datt et net verbreet war.

"De Maart diktéiert wat d'Präisser d'Leit bezuelen," sot si, an huet eng Warnung bäigefüügt fir déi, déi mengen, datt de Weltmeeschterschaftsmaart alles droe kann: "Wann Dir iwwerbelaascht, roden wat, Äre Raum wäert eidel sinn."

De Marobe huet d'Konsumenten ugeroden sech ronderëm ze shoppen, den Internet ze kontrolléieren an ze vergläichen wat verschidden Tourfirmen ubidden.

Jaime Byrom, executive chairman of MATCH, charged by soccer’s international governing body with organizing accommodation during World Cups, appeared alongside Marobe at Tuesday’s news conference.

Byrom said that compared to previous tournaments in Europe, this year’s World Cup won’t be cheap. Europeans accustomed to hopping across a border for matches will have to travel much farther, and that costs more. He also cited the strength of South Africa’s currency.

Byrom said any gouging in South Africa did not differ from what has been experienced at other World Cups. He has contracted with South African hotels and inns to offer rooms to World Cup fans.

"Mir kruten sécherlech fair Präisser a raisonnabel Geschäftsbedéngungen, déi mir un eise Clienten weiderginn konnten," sot hien, a rifft Berichter iwwer d'Gaugen iwwerdriwwen.

“Once it’s out there, this bad news seems to have very long legs.”