Comments on: Forget The Big Five: Let’s Sell The Sophisticated Five http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/forget-the-big-five-let%e2%80%99s-sell-the-sophisticated-five/ Newsletter on-line commentary and discussion about tourism in South Africa Wed, 16 May 2012 11:10:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Irma http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/forget-the-big-five-let%e2%80%99s-sell-the-sophisticated-five/comment-page-1/#comment-770 Irma Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:05:44 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/forget-the-big-five-let%e2%80%99s-sell-the-sophisticated-five/#comment-770 Martin, I have read your article to the very end - as mostly ;-) - and I agree with you: South Africa has far more to offer than just the "BIG 5". BUT - there is always a but, isn't it? - when it comes to our clientele people are more and more aware of canned hunting and they are simply disgusted by it. I also consider the trophy hunting and particularly the canned hunting as a disgrace to the SA nation! We also put a lot of effort on to education of clients in order to not support and engage in any lion walks, lion cub petting etc - for obvious reasons. Sad, that so many people just don't give it a second thought BEFORE engaging is such activities. Also sad that a lot of TO and TA don't offer advise in that regard to their clients. Finally - regrettably the "value for money" has just faded away being only 9ZAR: which makes the destination roughly 30% more expensive than e.g. one year ago. Using the currency exchange rate is always very tricky and we didn't use it as a marketing tool - but still the favourable exchange rate had its advantages :-) On our end of the chain - it's becoming tough to market SA particularly to people who have already visited and ja - SA should not stick any longer to the colonial past of trophy hunting and canned hunting in particular! We appreciate that our clients are extremely alert in view to conservation and pay quite a lot of attention to animal welfare. Best regards Irma Martin, I have read your article to the very end – as mostly ;-) – and I agree with you: South Africa has far more to offer than just the “BIG 5″.

BUT – there is always a but, isn’t it? – when it comes to our clientele people are more and more aware of canned hunting and they are simply disgusted by it. I also consider the trophy hunting and particularly the canned hunting as a disgrace to the SA nation!
We also put a lot of effort on to education of clients in order to not support and engage in any lion walks, lion cub petting etc – for obvious reasons.
Sad, that so many people just don’t give it a second thought BEFORE engaging is such activities. Also sad that a lot of TO and TA don’t offer advise in that regard to their clients.

Finally – regrettably the “value for money” has just faded away being only 9ZAR: which makes the destination roughly 30% more expensive than e.g. one year ago. Using the currency exchange rate is always very tricky and we didn’t use it as a marketing tool – but still the favourable exchange rate had its advantages :-)

On our end of the chain – it’s becoming tough to market SA particularly to people who have already visited and ja – SA should not stick any longer to the colonial past of trophy hunting and canned hunting in particular!
We appreciate that our clients are extremely alert in view to conservation and pay quite a lot of attention to animal welfare.

Best regards

Irma

]]> By: Paul Kerton http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/forget-the-big-five-let%e2%80%99s-sell-the-sophisticated-five/comment-page-1/#comment-767 Paul Kerton Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:46:03 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/forget-the-big-five-let%e2%80%99s-sell-the-sophisticated-five/#comment-767 Martin- unusual for me to actually read your blog to the bitter end, but have to say that this was one of your best and very apt and relevant for the upcoming Indaba. As a company celebrating African Luxury, the idea of "The Sophisticated Five" (or Magnificent Seven - apologies to Clint Eastwood), is a fabulous one. Wish I'd thought of it. regards Paul Martin- unusual for me to actually read your blog to the bitter end, but have to say that this was one of your best and very apt and relevant for the upcoming Indaba. As a company celebrating African Luxury, the idea of “The Sophisticated Five” (or Magnificent Seven – apologies to Clint Eastwood), is a fabulous one. Wish I’d thought of it.

regards
Paul

]]>