SANParks has slashed rates for South African visitors in an effort to attract more domestic tourism.
From November 1, SANParks has lowered the rate structure for SADC nationals using open safari vehicles (OSV) in the Kruger National Park. Conservation fees for Kruger National Park and OSV visitors will be R62 for local residents, R124 for SADC nationals and R248 for international visitors. Children under 12 pay 50% of these rates. Current OSV rates are R204 for all visitors.
“Where in the past, OSVs catered primarily for the international market and therefore all guests were required to pay the standard fee, the landscape is slowly changing,” says Glenn Phillips, managing executive of Tourism & Marketing for SANParks. “We are seeing more and more South Africans entering this market and currently 15% of OSV guests are local residents.”
Gavin Jarman, md of open-vehicle safari group, Lowveld Environmental Services, says it’s a very good decision by SANParks. “I believe it will have a positive impact on the conference business and incentives business in the future. Mpumalanga has increased its position in terms of international trade but we have definitely taken a knock in terms of domestic trade so I do think this will be positive.”
