Where will they sleep? Too many fans, not enough low-cost accommodation

Hong Kong, 3 February, GMT 15:00

Soccer fans around the world wait anxiously this weekend for the results of applications made for the third phase of ticketing for this summer’s World Cup in Germany

According to FIFA, 300,000 tickets have been allocated to internet applicants in this latest phase, bringing the total tickets now issued to the public via FIFA’s internet ticketing portal to over 1.1 million. Where will these 1.1 million people sleep?

Leading fans travel site, www.footballtourist.com reports that fans from across the world are finding it increasingly hard to book low cost places to stay. Footballtourist is uniquely placed to assess the demand for low-cost accommodation, as it offers a free service to soccer fans, linking them directly to a multitude of campsites, guest-houses and small hotels enabling fans to book direct at internet rates.

Footballtourist spokesman, David Lambert says “We have users making enquiries from across the globe – from the USA and Australia, to Ghana and Saudi Arabia. They’re all looking for the same thing: low-cost accommodation. We point them towards camp sites and low-cost hotels, but many of these places are close to full, even before the results of the third ticketing phase. The German authorities could have problems in the summer if fans choose to sleep rough rather than pay high costs for hotel rooms.”

“You have to feel for the fans” says Keith Dugdale, a veteran fan of four World Cups, “First of all, you have to apply for tickets well in advance of the tournament and pay up-front, with FIFA holding the cash for up to 10 months. Then, if you’re lucky enough to get a ticket, many hotels are charging massive premiums, insisting on minimum stays of 2-3 nights and increasing cancellation periods from 24 hours to up to 4 weeks.”

Germany is close enough, and the summer weather good enough, that many fans are planning to cross into Germany and sleep under the stars, in or outside their cars. Maybe the organisers should consider handing out free pre-match deodorant in the interests of public hygiene!

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Those interested in learning more about Footballtourist can visit www.footballtourist.com.

Address:
Footballtourist.com
16/F Shun Ho Tower
24-30 Ice House Street
Central
Hong Kong


Press contact:
David Lambert
Footballtourist Press Relations
Tel: +852 3017 3597 and +852 2817 8020
Mob: +852 9188 5702 or +44 792 903 8736
Email: dl@footballtourist.com

Notes for editors:

About Footballtourist:
Footballtourist’s free information and forums connect football nomads around the world, giving fans the travel, accommodation and sightseeing details they need to have a good time on the road.

Founded in 2004 by Keith Dugdale and David Lambert, veteran supporters of four World Cups and numerous European Championships, Footballtourist is based in Hong Kong.


This release was published on openPR.