Comments on: If We’re Going To Re-Think Tourism In SA - Let’s Rethink The Marketing Of SA http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/if-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-re-think-tourism-in-sa-let%e2%80%99s-rethink-the-marketing-of-sa/ Newsletter on-line commentary and discussion about tourism in South Africa Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:42:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Liz Page http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/if-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-re-think-tourism-in-sa-let%e2%80%99s-rethink-the-marketing-of-sa/#comment-615 Liz Page Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:27:38 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/if-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-re-think-tourism-in-sa-let%e2%80%99s-rethink-the-marketing-of-sa/#comment-615 Hi - I came upon the Tourism Week Newsletter via our local B & B Network. Regarding the Two Tier System - it's alive and well and being practised by SANParks - or at least at Addo Elephant Park. Having not been to one of SANParks' reserves for a while, I was horrified earlier this month when upon entering Addo with some American family we were charged two different prices. The two South Africans - my daughter and I - paid R30.00 each. The 'foreigners' (gate-keepers terminology) were charged R130.00 each for adults and jalf price for the eight year old (R65.00). This for a day visit. As mentioned, I was horrified - our visitors were bemused and we decided we would only spend the one day in the park. Our original plan had been to come back for a second. Go figure! Liz Hi - I came upon the Tourism Week Newsletter via our local B & B Network.

Regarding the Two Tier System - it’s alive and well and being practised by SANParks - or at least at Addo Elephant Park.

Having not been to one of SANParks’ reserves for a while, I was horrified earlier this month when upon entering Addo with some American family we were charged two different prices. The two South Africans - my daughter and I - paid R30.00 each. The ‘foreigners’ (gate-keepers terminology) were charged R130.00 each for adults and jalf price for the eight year old (R65.00). This for a day visit.

As mentioned, I was horrified - our visitors were bemused and we decided we would only spend the one day in the park. Our original plan had been to come back for a second.

Go figure!

Liz

]]> By: bev http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/if-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-re-think-tourism-in-sa-let%e2%80%99s-rethink-the-marketing-of-sa/#comment-611 bev Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:16:57 +0000 http://www.thistourismweek.co.za/newsletters/if-we%e2%80%99re-going-to-re-think-tourism-in-sa-let%e2%80%99s-rethink-the-marketing-of-sa/#comment-611 I read somewhere.."if you take longer than ex seconds to explain something, then you are not an expert in your subject". re marketing the country, hold that thought. So, I agree with all,and have more concerns, (prolly get fired for this)........just our local 'mother-body' ECTB, have a budget of R80 million.....they itemise all that they have motivated for in terms of their spend. Marketing, beautification, work stuff etc etc. Lekka...a few months down the line, I scratch my head, looking for the results. Zip. Nada. No trees as promised, no greening of the towns in the EC,no roads being fixed, no signage ... no no nothing. Oh yes loads of money spent on workshops/trips for friends, mini conferencing etc, and now their money is nearly finished and it is only Feb for sh**s sake. Who, please is accountable? With something like 250 million people in the US, how come, and this is if we can believe anyone, only 50 000 have booked to come here for the bloody ball games? My brother was there recently, he says he saw no sign of ANYTHING relating to the world cup event. How come tourism spend is all about local economic development and not attracting clients? Surely the 'led' will come anyway as a result of the tourism influx? The marketing is appalling......I found at a meeting the other day, they knew NOTHING about our region..so what are they selling? We are really the poorest of the areas and when we do get the couple of international tourists, they are BLOWN away by our region. If only they would let me loose at a world trade fair.......I would be dressed to look like the tallest pineapple in the world,my hat would be the Big 5.......I would be balanced on a surfboard, my hair would be the colour of the amazing winter sunsets and I would be carrying a basket filled with pineapples, biltong, fish, wine and cheese. Around my ankles would be beadwork, and I would be giving away small postcards, saying "call me you have to come and visit". Finished moaning for now.......... I read somewhere..”if you take longer than ex seconds to explain something, then you are not an expert in your subject”. re marketing the country, hold that thought.

So, I agree with all,and have more concerns, (prolly get fired for this)……..just our local ‘mother-body’ ECTB, have a budget of R80 million…..they itemise all that they have motivated for in terms of their spend. Marketing, beautification, work stuff etc etc.

Lekka…a few months down the line, I scratch my head, looking for the results.

Zip. Nada. No trees as promised, no greening of the towns in the EC,no roads being fixed, no signage … no no nothing. Oh yes loads of money spent on workshops/trips for friends, mini conferencing etc, and now their money is nearly finished and it is only Feb for sh**s sake.

Who, please is accountable?

With something like 250 million people in the US, how come, and this is if we can believe anyone, only 50 000 have booked to come here for the bloody ball games? My brother was there recently, he says he saw no sign of ANYTHING relating to the world cup event.

How come tourism spend is all about local economic development and not attracting clients? Surely the ‘led’ will come anyway as a result of the tourism influx?

The marketing is appalling……I found at a meeting the other day, they knew NOTHING about our region..so what are they selling?

We are really the poorest of the areas and when we do get the couple of international tourists, they are BLOWN away by our region.

If only they would let me loose at a world trade fair…….I would be dressed to look like the tallest pineapple in the world,my hat would be the Big 5…….I would be balanced on a surfboard, my hair would be the colour of the amazing winter sunsets and I would be carrying a basket filled with pineapples, biltong, fish, wine and cheese. Around my ankles would be beadwork, and I would be giving away small postcards, saying “call me you have to come and visit”.

Finished moaning for now……….

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