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Dumb FIFA
10 Mar 2010
World Cup room demand unpredictable say hoteliers
Why are the teams not all playing their group games in the same city? The problem is that fans are trying to get themselves around the country and it is not working, because they only want 1 or 2 nights in the host city and then want to go on safari during the off time. However the hotels and guesthouses are all insisting on min 4 to 6 night stays and then exclusive use etc etc. Its a joke! Another problem - a lot of fans don't know if they have the tickets they want - so when you ask them "would you like to confirm that safari lodge" they come back with "not sure yet - we don't know if we have tickets" I am grateful for the increase in tourism, the new roads and stadia etc - but quite frankly I cannot wait for the World Cup to be over!
Anonymous


FWC - good value or rip-off?
10 Mar 2010
World Cup room demand unpredictable say hoteliers
World Cup - Rip-Off or value for money? – Judge for yourself. There is a perception that football fans planning to visit South Africa will not be arriving in the huge numbers originally anticipated. Knysna Tourism has been told to expect around 350 French and Danish visitors. MATCH have released 95% of all Kruger Park and Garden Route they were holding. The “Great South African Rip Off” is being widely blamed. Some airlines and accommodation providers were recently charged with over-pricing for SWC. A little research has shown us that by far the majority of S A accommodation establishments are charging normal high season rates. We took our research a little further and visited a few international web sites featuring the official FIFA SWC Tour Operators. Keith Prowse Tours in the UK are offering - at an absolute steal - a 12 night package for only £ 9 995 p/p/s. (That’s around R 120 000.00). For this you get return airfare London- JHB, match tickets for the last three games, 12 nights b/b at a 3 star hotel close to the airport, and 3 stadium/hotel transfers. If you wish to spend a little less then BAC Sport Tours has just the right package for you. For only R 90 000.00 you get return airfare from London–JHB, 3 nights accommodation with full board, airport and stadium transfers for 1 game (final). Ticket is included. A well known Football Tour Operator in London is offering category D tickets (Face Value R 140) for 650 Euro. That’s around R 7 000.00 Rip-off or value for money – judge for yourself?
Anonymous


World Cup problems - Part 2
10 Mar 2010
World Cup room demand unpredictable say hoteliers
It's me again - the other problem that SA faes is the fact that Match, FIFA or whoever you want to call them, allows only to the highest bidders to sell tickets. In Australia not one of the wholesalers that supports SA tourism on a year rond basis was able to match the bids of the sports tours groups. These groups won the tender for seliing tickets and many have gone into the business of trying to sell accommodation and packages having only visited the destination once. One company has even hired out a football stadium in Durban and turned it into a tent city for over 1,000 Australians. A lot of good this does for SA tourism - especially those that have spent so much on upgrading their accommodation for this event! I was alomost sorry to see that we ended up with a pool match in Durban! Rod Eather Beachcomber Tours, Australia
Gail Hughes


World Cup - Airlines are the winners, not hotels!
10 Mar 2010
World Cup room demand unpredictable say hoteliers
Of course hotel bookings will be unpredictable because the Pool games have been spread over such great distances rather than being kept in the same area. This is great for the airlines ferrying everyone around, but people are not committing to hotels. If Pool games had been kept in the one region, hotels would be full for longer periods. I am not coming to the World Cup because to watch Australia play I have to go to Rustenberg, Nelspruit and Durban to see three games of football! Rod Eather Beachcomber Tours, Australia.
Gail Hughes


Appointment of Siza Mzimela
09 Mar 2010
'Give us a chance' - SAA's Siza Mzimela
Whilst I agree that certain SAA staff desperately need a course in PR it would seem that SAA have eventually found the right person for the job. She has all the credentials by the looks of things. Let's hope Siza can make the difference and she is allowed to run the company the way she deems right.
Richard De La Rey


Moyle Leaves SA Tourism
09 Mar 2010
Moyle to leave SA Tourism
This is very sad - Didi did a good job whilst in a Government Department mired in BEE-ineffectiveness and incompetence.
Anonymous


van Schalkwyk & the UN...Made for each other!
09 Mar 2010
SA Tourism Minister headed for UN?
Marthinus van Schalkwyk and the climate debate are one in the same, a fabricated farce. The recent investigations and admissions to the fact that most (if not all) of the "global-warming" climate claims are and have been, fabricated for personal and professional gain, is part and parcel verbatem of what Van Schalkwyk has been as SA Environment Minister. He bloviated his way into a position of authority and power, and used same as his personal "bully pulpit". He has accomplished nothing more than draw a big salary and promote the "carbon credits" farce invented by none other than the biggest bloviator and farce of them all, Al Gore. Both men are a "joke". Thomas D Brennan
Thomas Brennan


African Shark Eco Charters
08 Mar 2010
African Shark Eco-Charters awarded FTTSA certification
Fantastic news! So pleased that this company is being credited with the important work they do in promoting a positive shark experience.
Amanda Devine


Ideal Appointment
08 Mar 2010
SA Tourism Minister headed for UN?
Marthinus van Schalkwyk has been responsible for allowing tourism numbers to be totally inflated by counting day workers from neighbouring countries as tourists. This should stand him in good stead for producing figures that show carbon offsetting is working when it plainly does not. Look at www.cheatneutral.com to see how you can offset being unfaithful by paying someone else to be faithful
Michael Gold


Kortbroek at the UN
08 Mar 2010
SA Tourism Minister headed for UN?
He is an ANC putz, you can't trust him as far as you can throw him. All he knows is how to suck up.
Robert Mattner