Cape Town best value for accommodation during World Cup

March 30 - Anyone seeking value-priced accommodation for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa should consider Cape Town, according to a new survey.

The month-long accommodation pricing survey carried out by Grant Thornton South Africa followed international criticism that South Africa was price-gouging hotel rates during the event.

The survey polled 2,479 accommodation establishments from all nine provinces with 38 per cent of respondents coming from the Western Cape region.

Establishments included hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast establishments, lodges, backpackers, camping and self-catering facilities.

The survey results show that 65 per cent of Johannesburg establishments are charging rates more than 50 per cent higher than their peak season tariffs.

In Durban, 53 per cent of properties are hiking their prices 50 per cent over their high season rates.
 
In Cape Town, fewer than 20 per cent are going this route, mainly as a result of a  hands-on pricing message campaign by the region’s tourism authorities.

The Grant Thornton Survey attributed better pricing in Cape Town to excess capacity, a significant slowdown in demand and the efforts of Cape Town Tourism to promote ethical pricing.