Domestic tourism drops

ANY strategy [by the
National Department of
Tourism] should espouse
a closer working relationship
between SA Tourism and
industry stakeholders such
as travel agents, airlines and
hotel groups, says James
Vos, DA Shadow Minister of
Tourism.
James released a statement
regarding concerns that
domestic tourism numbers
between 2012 and 2014 had
fallen. “The Department of
Tourism’s Domestic Tourism
Growth Strategy 2012-2020
states that the biggest
inhibiting factor to domestic
tourism is the perception that
travel is not affordable,” the
statement said.
A breakdown of domestic
tourism figures requested
by James and supplied by
Minister of Tourism, Derek
Hanekom, reveals that
between 2012 and 2014
(year to date: January to
September) domestic trips
have declined by 200 000.
Meanwhile, revenue from
domestic tourism has gone
up, which could indicate that
domestic trips have become
more expensive, said James.
Revenue from domestic
tourism increased between
2012 and 2013, with R21,8bn
generated in 2012 compared
with R24,3bn in 2013.
“There needs to be a policy
shift to get South Africans
experiencing their own country
by making travel affordable
and accessible as this will
grow local economies and
create jobs,” said James.
Dezy de Lima, product and
marketing manager for Holiday
Tours, says it has not seen a
decrease in domestic tourism
but there has been a change
in booking trends, with South
Africans looking to travel out
of season. “The traditional
peak periods to travel are not
as popular as in the past. The
local traveller is more budgetconscious
but would still
like to travel.” She adds that
traditionally school holidays
and festive seasons are
more expensive and that the
operator did not see the usual
uptake last December.
Spokesperson for Mango,
Hein Kaiser, says demand
in the aviation market has
declined steadily over the
past seven years and,
concomitantly, the number of
people travelling. “With the
current economic squeeze,
this may well place domestic
tourism under pressure.
Affordability remains a key
factor and low-cost aviation will
continue to play a key role in
supporting domestic tourism.”
Flight Centre’s air warehouse
leader, Carlos Luis, says
domestic airfares have ‘crept
up’ over the past two years
but he foresees, with new
airlines in the local market,
that travellers will see more
competitive fares, which in
turn should make domestic
travel more affordable.
“With reduced airfares
and competitive rates for
accommodation and car hire,
we don’t believe that domestic
travel is too expensive.”
Russel Jarvis, Travelstart’s
head of communications, adds
that if new domestic airline
players don’t expand their
route networks efficiently, then
prices are likely to increase.
But he is confident domestic
tourism will flourish. He says
people will continue to travel
to attend unique events
that don’t take place in their
own cities, such as rugby
tournaments or popular music
concerts.