The vast majority of respondents to our latest poll believe steep rate increases at South Africa’s high-end lodges are threatening the country’s reputation as a value-for-money destination.
A total of 71% of respondents said the sharp annual rate increases pose a threat, 18% said they don’t and 11% were “unsure”. The results indicate widespread industry alignment with the concerns laid out by David Ryan, Founder and CEO of Rhino Africa, in a recent discussion with Tourism Update.
Do you place emphasis on emotional connection with experiences?
In a Tourism Update column last week, commercial and marketing strategist Lindsey Walter shared how the true magic of travel lies in transforming a feature, product or service into an emotional experience that stays with travellers long after they’ve returned home.
“Rather than asking them where they want to go, we should be asking why, more than once, to uncover the true emotions leading the decision. It’s not about the hotel or the itinerary – it’s about the feeling that the traveller hopes the trip will evoke,” Walter said.
While this shift is already happening within the travel industry, moving from the tried-and-tested methods is sometimes not easy to embrace, Walter added. How much importance do you place on this aspect of selling or buying destinations and products?
Our poll question this week is:
