South African and FIFA officials have angrily condemned what they see as emotional and inaccurate reporting, especially in England and Germany, about the dangers to supporters from some of the world's most violent criminals.
They say an enormous police operation will keep fans safe.
Recently, alarm bells have also started ringing about high prices, which are hitting advance ticket sales.
One of the most undesirable consequences is that Africa's first World Cup, a huge event for the continent, is likely to be seen by only a trickle of visitors from other African nations.
"I am very angry. It would cost me almost three months' pay to follow Nigeria around if you add hotels and travel," said Lagos-based investment banker Fola Fagbule.
"It's really ridiculous...Tell them they can keep their tickets, I've got a big-screen TV."
FIFA officials said last week two-thirds of the three million tickets for the football extravaganza had been sold and they were delighted by a surge in demand after the draw in December, but a lack of flights, their cost and negative reporting about security were having an impact.
FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke said flying from Europe "costs a fortune," partly because there were not enough flights.
There is also a concern about internal air travel where some prices have trebled during the month of the World Cup, starting on June 11.
Accommodation prices have increased even more, by three, four or even 10-fold for some luxury digs.
South Africa's competition watchdog says it is investigating six local airlines for alleged price-fixing during the World Cup, the globe's most-watched sports event.
INFLATED RATES
The prices are causing real anger, even though it is generally acknowledged that South Africa, as a long-haul destination, was never going to attract the same rush for tickets as Germany in 2006.
"Why the huge price increase? Easy, it boils down to one word, a word that hotels, bars and taxis are using more and more as the tournament rolls into town - greed," one South African said in a comment on the website of Britain's Daily Mail.
Peter Stephens, managing director of the British travel agents DialAFlight said this week: "No wonder so many fans have been put off heading to South Africa. The hoteliers and local airlines in the areas where the games are being played have inflated their rates by between 50 and 100 percent."
He said fans who had already paid high prices to get to South Africa "now face the grim prospect of paying massively inflated prices for internal flights...to follow their team's progress. Hoteliers and flight operators seem oblivious to the fact we are still in a worldwide recession."
Sugen Pillay, global events manager for South African Tourism, told Reuters authorities were very concerned about "ridiculously" high prices because they wanted the World Cup to lure visitors back for future holidays.
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