Tips to make the rand go further
WITH the exchange rate
sitting at over R10 to
the Australian dollar,
travel ‘Down Under’ can be
costly and agents are having
to be creative and make the
most of their destination
expertise to sell the country
to South Africans.
It’s not just the exchange
rate that makes Australia
pricey – another factor is
that many of the destinations
people want to travel to are
along the east coast. These
areas, like Sydney, Melbourne
and Brisbane, are popular
with travellers from all over
the world, making them very
expensive, says Annemarie
Lexow, sales and marketing
manager of Travel Vision. She
adds that accommodation
is particularly pricey in
these cities.
Another factor that pushes
up prices is that Australia
is a year-round destination
and therefore there are no
opportunities to travel during
low or shoulder periods,
says Annemarie. “Also, as
Australia is in the Southern
hemisphere, it shares our
seasons and their school
holidays are similar, making it
more difficult for a family with
kids to travel out of season
to Australia.”
Cutting costs
Annemarie says many South
Africans stay with family and
friends to save on costs, but
still book excursions and
activities while they are there
– providing an opportunity for
agents to upsell.
This is also the view of
Theresa Szejwallo, md of
Trafalgar and CostSaver, who
says while Australia is not
a huge seller, it is growing.
“We believe this is due to the
short city stays we offer. It
seems our guests are taking
these as an add-on extension
to their family visits. With all
the inclusions and experience
Trafalgar provides, with the
seamless orchestration in
the way we package every
aspect, there is just no
comparison with the
experience an independent
traveller would have.”
Bronwyn Strydom,
marketing manager of
Trafalgar and CostSaver,
says Trafalgar’s most
popular ‘mini-stay holidays’
are Sydney and the Blue
Mountains, Sydney’s
Food and Wine Discovery,
Melbourne and the Great
Ocean Road, Cairns and
the Great Barrier Reef and
Tropical Reef and Rainforest.
Another way to cut back is
by exploring the country by
coach, says Bronwyn. “All VIP
sightseeing is included with
extra free time and optional
experiences.”
Average costs...
Numbeo, which publishes
the average cost of living
in countries around the
world, provides some
insight into what tourists
should expect to pay
for common items and
services in Australia.
McMeal at McDonalds: AU$10 (R100)
Cappuccino: AU$4,19 (R42)
Water (1,5l): AU$2,49 (R25)
Three-course mid-range restaurant meal for two:
AU$80 (R808)
Mid-range bottle of wine at a supermarket: AU$15
(R152)
Domestic beer at a supermarket (0,5 litre): AU$5,18
(R52)
Gasoline (1 litre): AU$1,27 (R13)
One movie ticket: AU$18 (R182)
Take note!
Air Mauritius offers flight options from Cape Town, Johannesburg and
Durban to Perth in Australia. From Perth, passengers can connect
seamlessly with Virgin Australia to all the country’s major cities. In
addition, the airline offers economy-class passengers with a checked
luggage allowance of two pieces weighing 23kg each, while businessclass
passengers can check in two pieces weighing 32kg each. On all
non-connecting flights from Australia to South Africa, passengers are
offered a free stopover in Mauritius at a four-star hotel, including meals
and transfers. All-inclusive return airfares between SA and Perth start
from R9 714 for economy and R24 414 for business class.
The Australian government has implemented tighter screening procedures
for passengers flying to Australia on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Qantas
from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. This follows the implementation of the
country’s new requirements for enhanced explosives detection. The new
directive does not apply to flights bound for the UAE out of Australian
airports. The tightened security measures will include additional screening
at the gate and it may include targeted screening of passengers’ personal
electronic devices. However, there is currently no restriction on carrying
electronic devices on flights into Australia.
Did you know?
Air Mauritius offers flight options from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban to Perth in Australia. From Perth, passengers can connect seamlessly with Virgin Australia to all the country’s major cities. In addition, the airline offers economy-class passengers with a checked luggage allowance of two pieces weighing 23kg each, while businessclass passengers can check in two pieces weighing 32kg each. On all non-connecting flights from Australia to South Africa, passengers are offered a free stopover in Mauritius at a four-star hotel, including meals and transfers. All-inclusive return airfares between SA and Perth start from R9 714 for economy and R24 414 for business class.
