SANParks has introduced a new commission structure, effective December 1, 2017, with the hope that it will encourage a better spread of tourists across the different parks it manages.

As of December 1, commission levels will not only be determined by the revenue an operator brings in in terms of bookings, but also according to the average occupancy of the camp booked. There are three categories of occupancies, with higher commissions paid to lower occupancy camps. For example, an operator placing between R870 000 (€60 640) and R1 740 000 (€121 255) in bookings each year will get 25% commission at low-occupancy camps, 20% commission at average-occupancy camps, and 10% commission at high-occupancy camps.

Low-occupancy camps include Agulhas, Augrabies, Golden Gate and Mapungubwe national parks as well as camps in the Kruger, including Berg-En-Dal, Malelane and Pretoriuskop. Average-occupancy camps include Camdeboo, Karoo and Mountain Zebra national parks as well as Kruger camps including Shingwedzi and Bateleur. High-occupancy camps include Addo Elephant and Kgalagadi parks as well as Kruger camps including Skukuza, Crocodile, Lower Sabie, and Satara camps.

Reynold Thakhuli, GM: Media, Events & Stakeholder Relations at SANParks, told Tourism Update a business decision had been taken to change the structure in the interests of ensuring a balanced spread of visitors to all the parks that are managed by SANParks.

He added that SANParks would seek to encourage a greater spread across its parks from direct bookings, which accounted for the bulk of the business, by offering discounts and also marketing the activities on offer at its parks with lower occupancies and also by introducing new activities at these parks.