Barbados denies World Cup accommodation shortage

Organisers for the 2007 World Cup have denied stories that there will be a shortfall on the number of beds available in Barbados during the competition.

The BBC originated a story on Tuesday, claiming that anyone planning to travel to Barbados to watch games during the tournament would have to book early or face a scramble for rooms outside hotels. The final, one of the semi-finals, and England's group games will be played at Bridgetown.

"There is no shortage," Francine Charles, communications and marketing manager for the World Cup, told Barbados's Nation newspaper. "It was a known fact, even to the ICC, before they said the Caribbean would be able to host the World Cup, that accommodation was an issue that we would have to find creative solutions to achieving and to effect successfully."

The BBC had spoken at length to Stuart Layne, president of the Barbados Tourism Authority, who said that there was likely to be a shortage of around 1500 beds. "We will only build two or three new hotels," he admitted, "so we are also looking at bed-and-breakfasts." Charles said that the story was misleading and did not accurately reflect the facts.

The Nation reported that there will be 14 000 rooms available. "It's the reason that we were able to win the bid," Charles explained. "In our presentations and our bid responses, we assured the organisers that we could deliver on the rooms that are necessary for hosting the final.

"We believe we have pulled together a team to ensure there is a creative solution for the accommodation problem which will also be an opportunity for Barbadians to benefit during the World Cup."