With about four years to go before the Vancouver winter Olympics, tourism companies have already started selling flights and hotels at surprisingly high prices, prompting authorities to control rates within reasonable range.

Regina-based Dash Tours is selling its platinum hotel and flight package at 25,999 Canadian dollars (US$22,100). It includes a round-trip flight to Vancouver from anywhere in Canada or the US, a limo ride from the airport, 18 nights at the Delta Vancouver Suites Hotel and a reception. But it does not include tickets to Olympic events.

Another hotel-flight package for the Vancouver Winter Olympics is charging about 1,400 Canadian dollars (US$1,200) a night for a room that usually costs 289 Canadian dollars (US$245) during the height of the summer season.

Those prices are too high, according to Dave Gazley from the city's tourism administration.

Although hotels and tour companies are free to charge according to the market, the city will launch a spectator accommodation program in 2008 that will encourage hotels to keep rates reasonable, said Gazley.

Olympic cities often get too aggressive in their hotel pricing but that's a short-term mentality, he said.

Vancouver hopes that its hotels will make fair pricing over the Olympics and "certainly not do what some past Olympic cities have made the mistake in doing," he said.

Vancouver's tourism agency hopes people coming to the Olympics will fall in love with the city and come back. But for that to happen, they will have to feel they are getting good value for their money, Gazley said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 30, 2006)