South Africans can make domestic holidays more affordable by planning ahead, setting realistic budgets and looking beyond the country’s better-known attractions.
Only 11% of South Africans properly plan their holidays, including budgeting and making arrangements in advance, according to figures shared by South African Tourism during a domestic tourism event held last week.
Mapalo Makhu, Personal Finance Educator and Founder of Women & Finance, said travellers should consider what they wanted from a holiday and what they could afford.
“Look at the type of holiday that you’re looking for and what it is you want to experience. Then from there, do not be afraid of numbers,” she said. This could include mapping out expected income, such as a bonus or tax refund, and setting aside money each month for a planned trip.
Mashoto Mokgethi, Head of Domestic Tourism at South African Tourism, said SA Tourism initiatives were aimed at affordability but still required travellers to plan ahead. Travel Week, held in the first week of September, offers deals of up to 50% off, allowing travellers to secure discounts in advance and travel at a later date.
“For Travel Week, we encourage people to start planning for bookings in September so that they know they can cover whatever trip they have planned.”
Finding better value
She said travellers did not have to visit the country’s most well-known attractions to have an enjoyable experience.
Makhu said travelling off-season helped to reduce costs but required travellers to be deliberate about their choices.
“You have to be intentional about your holidays. What is a priority to you and making your life work around that? If travel is important, it will form part of your budget.”
Role of AI
AI, social media and online search tools are giving travellers more ways to research destinations, compare options and plan trips around their budgets.
Mokgethi said social media and AI had changed how people discovered destinations and planned their trips, with travellers increasingly turning to content creators, search engines and AI tools for inspiration and advice.
However, the shift to digital has not removed the need for travel agents, particularly for less experienced travellers.
“Travelling sometimes, especially for a country that is not big on the culture of travel, can be daunting, and sometimes you need someone to hold your hand and guide you. For those that are still getting into travelling, they will rely on an agent compared to an avid traveller.”
