Mossel Bay won't be hiking prices to cash in during the 2010 World Cup, with many of the town's accommodation providers and tourism product owners planning to attract both South Africans and foreign visitors by charging their normal low season rates during the tournament. That's the word from Mossel Bay Tourism's Marcia Holm.

?As a result of the media focus on accommodation and transport prices and possible price gouging during the World Cup, we asked our members to mail us their World Cup period rates ? and none of those who responded will be charging anything more than they would during the rest of our low season, which stretches from just after Easter until well into September,? said Ms Holm.

She said that the biggest attractions for Mossel Bay in winter were the same as its biggest attractions in summer ? it?s warm, stable weather and its natural environment.

?With more than 300 days of sunshine in every 365, our visitors can enjoy our beaches, the warm Indian Ocean, our fynbos, our game reserves, and the Outeniqua Mountains every day of the year, and our accommodation providers have taken full advantage of both the weather and the environment in the establishment of their businesses to best suit their guests.

?This is also reflected in the cross-section of members who replied to our survey.

?For instance, during the period of the World Cup ? and for the rest of our winter season ? you can hire a caravan stand for R100 per night, or a four-bedroom, self-catering beach house from R1200 per night at the ATKV Hartenbos Resort; you can stay in the four-star Eight Bells Mountain Inn on a bed and breakfast basis from R500 per person per night; you can rent a two-bedroom self-catering apartment at Anchor House on the Mossel Bay Golf Estate for R650 per night (a price which includes registration as a guest of the golf course, so that you can play at members? rates); or you can enjoy dinner, bed and breakfast with two game drives at the Garden Route Game Lodge (an Official accommodation provider to the 2010 FIFA World Cup) from R965 per person per night,? she said.

? Book a bed in Mossel Bay online now!

Ms. Holm said that it was important to note that these were rack rates ? and not special offers.

?I really want to emphasise that everyone can find value for money in Mossel Bay, which is first and foremost a child-friendly, family-oriented holiday resort town,? she said.

Ms. Holm said that Mossel Bay?s adventure operators were also keeping their prices in line with their normal winter season rates.

For example, Mossel Bay Deep Sea Adventures offered six-hour fishing charters for R550 per person (including all tackle and bait), or three-hour trips for R300 ? and that this was the same rate they were charging in 2008.

?The only gouging you?re likely to see in Mossel Bay during this year?s World Cup will be the gouges your kids dig into the clean sand of our beaches,? she said.