Package tours: Mourners travelling to tomorrow's funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome have been warned against "rip-off merchants" trying to cash in on the occasion.
Dermot Jewell, chief executive of the Consumers' Association of Ireland, said "scandalous" prices were being charged for package tours to the Vatican.
However, he admitted most of the profiteering seemed to be happening at the Italian end.
Irish tour agents are charging up to €900 for a two-day funeral package, including flights and accommodation.
The agents said they were unable to offer a one-day trip because of the early start for the funeral of 10am local time.
With up to two million people expected to pour into the city for the day, most agents have turned to hotels outside Rome from where people will be bussed into St Peter's Basilica.
Con Murphy, managing director of United Travel, which was offering a two-night package for €699-€899, departing from either Shannon or Knock, said prices in Rome had tripled in some places.
Neil Horgan of Abbey Travel, which was offering a €849 two-night package, said prices had doubled at the hotel with which it normally booked.
David Walsh of Joe Walsh Tours said it had received about 500 calls yesterday morning about its €499 package to Rome. The cost included return flights to Naples, and accommodation in Fuiggi, about 85km from the Vatican.
All agents said yesterday that only a handful of seats were still available.
Airlines, meanwhile, reported a surge in demand for flights to Rome.
Aer Lingus, which put on larger aircraft on the route to try to deal with the demand, said it had only a few seats remaining tomorrow, while Ryanair said last-minute bookings had doubled on its London Stansted-Rome route.
Mr Jewell said people should be aware that increased travel and accommodation prices were only the "opening salvo". The cost of dining, transport and other services were also likely to be inflated, he added..
"There are a significant number of individuals who are trying to make the most of a bad situation," he said.
A spokesman for the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs Office said that, while no one liked to see exploitation, "the market rules here. There is no price control."
