Domestic luxury hotels and travel agencies are desperately trying to fill vacancies they have been left with during the World Cup because of cancellations by the UK based Byrom, the exclusive official FIFA travel agent and booking firm. Byrom originally booked 796,100 room/nights at 217 domestic hotels, but then cancelled 562,000, 70% of total, as of the end of April. The estimated number of guests at the hotels is 230,000, far below the 490,000 expected.

As a result some exceptional bargains are now available with Hyundai Tour, for example, currently selling rooms at the Hyatt, Chosun, Hilton, Plaza, and Marriott hotels at a 50% discount.

Travel businesses say they expect the sales rate in June to remain at the 35%-60% level among luxury hotels in downtown Seoul, which usually stands at nearly 90% at this time of year.

An insider said his agency pre-bought 1,500 rooms from six hotels, but more than 800 of them remain empty, adding that some rooms are being sold for as little as W30,000. Another travel agency "B" which also booked rooms in advance has had its business license suspended with sales having almost stopped.

Tower Hotel, whose had 70% of reservations by Byrom cancelled, is rolling out deluxe suites from between W100,000 and W200,000. Meanwhile the Temple Stay program, which offers foreigner visitors lodging for some 60,000 at 33 temples nationwide, has the same story with bookings remaining at only 281 as of the end of May. (Lee Dong-hyeok, dong@chosun.com )