Golf visitors must not be taken for Ryder Cup ride, warns TD

ACTION must be urgently taken to ensure golf fans following the Ryder Cup are not ripped off by hiked-up prices, it was warned today.

The biennial clash between the best golfers in Europe and the US this year takes place in the prestigious K Club in Straffan, County Kildare, and is expected to bring a €140 million bonus for the economy - with a potential TV audience of one billion viewers.

With the matches expected to attract 40,000 people a day, Labour’s tourism spokesman Jack Wall warned price hikes could turn visitors off ever returning to Ireland for a holiday.

“This is not just something that concerns the immediate area surrounding the K Club in Kildare, but is relevant to our major cities and towns, and adjacent counties, where many people will be based during the tournament,” he said.

“During the autumn, I repeatedly asked Minister John O’Donoghue what strategy he would put in place to protect tourists from being ripped-off. He merely stated that he had asked state tourism agencies to ‘be vigilant’.”

Mr Wall said a more active approach was required from the Government to ensure Ireland’s reputation was not jeopardised.

He said: “Visitors to this country should feel welcome and fulfilled following a trip to Ireland rather than experience the empty feeling of being ripped-off. The Government should start acting on this now.”

As the biggest event taking place during the year, Fáilte Ireland said the Ryder Cup offered an unrivalled opportunity for Irish tourism.

Fáilte Ireland revealed a survey among 50 of the three, four and five-star hotels in the Dublin and Leinster area had shown an average maximum increase of 24% in prices for 2006.

The authority said the approved accommodation providers file their price ranges with the authority and cannot exceed the maximum submitted before the year starts.

Shaun Quinn, Fáilte Ireland chief executive, said the prices lodged did not mean the maximum would be charged but it did ensure a ceiling on prices.

“In light of the supply and demand considerations around the Ryder Cup an average of 24% is not unreasonable, and a number of four and five star hotels in Dublin have increased their maximum possible rates by less than 10%.”

For a five-day package in the five-star Dromoland Castle in Co Clare - including bed and breakfast, a standard entry ticket to the matches, transportation to the event, a celebration evening and a gift - the prices range for €4,490 for a standard room, to €7,120 for an executive suite.

With the international event still eight months away, many packages in well-known hotels are already sold out.

Around 20,000 tickets were given out on a lottery system basis on the official Ryder Cup website for the event, which takes place from Friday, September 22 until Sunday, September 24.

With tickets scarce many fans are resorting to internet sites charging more than €900 for a two-day ticket.