Tourists Give Cup Thumbs Up to a Pricey World Cup

World Cup tourists have given a big thumbs up to the just-ended event in Brazil despite high prices, according to a study released Tuesday.

The Datafolha Institute poll showed 83 percent of respondents felt the month-long tournament had been well organized to just three percent who rated organization as poor.

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Delivery of several stadiums was delayed almost to the eve of the competition, but 92 percent of those questioned across six of the 12 venues gave high marks for comfort and security.

Brazil scrapped a swath of initially planned urban mobility schemes but 72 percent of respondents said they had a positive experience getting around the continent-sized host nation.

Prior to the event there had been concerns as to whether Brazil's ageing airport infrastructure could cope with more than 600,000 foreign fans and some three million domestic travelers.

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But 76 percent found they had been able to fly around the country without difficulty.

Tourist attractions in general enjoyed an 84 percent positive rating and 82 percent praised tourist security.

Expensive accommodation was a major complaint with just 32 percent rating them affordable.

And stadium food received low marks, with just 42 percent finding catering options appetizing while 17 percent rated them poor.

Telephone and internet communications also failed to impress -- only 39 percent found them very good to 22 who rated them as lacking.

Most observers, in and beyond Brazil, see the Cup as having been in the main a resounding success, however.

"Tourists leave with a positive image even if they were sensitive to the high prices of services and to social inequality," Folha de Sao Paulo quoted Datafolha director general Mauro Paulino as saying.

Topping the poll were the Brazilian people themselves, their friendliness earning good reviews from 95 percent of 2,209 foreign visitors from 60 countries interviewed between July 1 and 11 in six host cities.

Source-AFP