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Cape Town – Domestic tourism stats indicate that South Africans are doing less travelling than usual and a recent poll run on News24 indicates perhaps SA’s top attractions are just too expensive for local tourists.
Robben Island has announced that it will be increasing its ticket prices as of 1 June 2015, from the current R280 for adults to R300 ; and children under 18 will pay R160.
While the increase might only be seen as R20 - it appears to put a visit to the iconic heritage site, infamous for jailing anti-apartheid stalwarts such as Nelson Mandela, out of reach for the average SA family.
Based on these new prices, a family of four (Parents and two children) would end up paying R920 for the outing.
In a poll run on News24 in which more than 18 000 people responded, the overall response with 13 656 votes, is that the new cost is exorbitant.
Traveller24 contacted Robben Island spokesperson Quinton Mtyala to confirm what the operational costs, such as fuel, are for the island but we have yet to receive a response.
Figures shared by the Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom in Parliament, show an estimated 200 000 less travelled South Africans between 2012 and 2013.
Year: Domestic Tourism Figures Total Trips
2012 12.5 million 25.4 million
2013 12.0 million 25.2 million
2014 (Year to date: January-September) 9.0 million - 19.8 million
The submitted figures for 2014, however were inconclusive and did not include the end-of-year peak season figures. At the time of the Decline in Domestic Tourism report, Traveller24 contacted the department of tourism to confirm the final figures but the department confirmed these had not yet been finalised.
As with the cost of the Robben Island ticket price increase, we asked readers whether they travel locally, and the majority (10 592) of the 14 393 votes received, indicated that locals do in fact believe there is much to see in and around South Africa. A marginal 3 801 people said they would rather travel overseas.
The Department of Tourism is expected to present plans to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism, clarifying how it plans to stimulate domestic tourism. In light of this a good place to start might be to get iconic attractions around SA such as Robben Island subsidised for locals.
While implementing a two-tier pricing system (one for locals and one for international tourists) might be difficult, certain attractions such as Table Mountain make it possible for locals to visit for free, simply by presenting their South African ID on the day of their birthday.
Traveller24 also asked readers how the department of tourism could stimulate local tourism and what they thought of domestic tourism.
The cost of fuel, increased flight prices and expensive accommodation were just some of the reasons locals cited travel to be an unaffordable luxury.
“Look at the prices of everything. It caters for the foreign tourists because the USD the Euro and Dollar are so strong," said reader Louis Olivier. Olivier felt room rate priced South Africans out of the market "We the SA public are being ripped off left right & centre. It's plain simple, we just can no longer afford it,” said Louis Olivier.
While others suggested enhancements to roads and infrastructure in areas that badly needed it.
“Small environmental changes impact greatly on leisure activities. I have lived in Nkomazi for most of my life. I remember seeing many day-trippers from nearby towns over weekends up to the mid-90’s, on the way to the Kruger National Park or simply visiting local eateries on a day out," said Mel Preddy.
"It disappeared overnight when the Nkomazi toll gate opened in the late 90's. It became an expensive paid entrance to the region, and effectively isolated it from day tourism."
“With toll gates and petrol prices, it is impossible still to fork out on accommodation. Feel sorry for the youngsters with families,” said Daphne Heald.
"Enhance the N1 trip in the same way Americans have done with Route 66 , with wonderful and weird attractions to make it the most epic road trip in SA," said Marius Jacobs.
“I have travelled internationally, extensively. The fact remains South Africa is still a stunningly beautiful country with places to visit that are world class. Eating out in restaurants is a lot cheaper than most places in Europe and the US. And the quality and quantity of food is comparable if not better. As for service, you get good and bad service in all countries. We have our problems, yes. But so do others. It's time we started taking pride in ourselves again!” said Warren Gordon Allen.
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