Should you wait to book a safari for 2009?
Nov 8th, 2008, 03:18 PM
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Should you wait to book a safari for 2009?
Zambia saw a deep drop off in tourist bookings and dropped their visa fees. With all the cancellations in Botswana, maybe alot of deals will be seen.
"The international financial crisis could result in unemployment and loss of revenue for Botswana tourism. Industry sources have confirmed to The Ngami Times that several major bookings by safari and hunting clients for the 2009 season have been put on the back-burner or cancelled.
The Ngami Times understands that at least one safari company has apparently lost all its potential clients for next year's season and a number of others are already thinking of cutting back on more staff than is usually the case atthe end of a tourism season.
Some are reporting cancellations – particularly from the United States - equal to about 20% of their future bookings."
"The international financial crisis could result in unemployment and loss of revenue for Botswana tourism. Industry sources have confirmed to The Ngami Times that several major bookings by safari and hunting clients for the 2009 season have been put on the back-burner or cancelled.
The Ngami Times understands that at least one safari company has apparently lost all its potential clients for next year's season and a number of others are already thinking of cutting back on more staff than is usually the case atthe end of a tourism season.
Some are reporting cancellations – particularly from the United States - equal to about 20% of their future bookings."
Nov 9th, 2008, 12:54 PM
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Nov 9th, 2008, 01:15 PM
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Less people and crowds maybe good for a cashed up visitor but lots of job losses and less income for the people living around wildlife areas can't be good for the impoverished people or for the wildlife. This is not good news any way I look at it. Sorry!
Nov 10th, 2008, 12:46 AM
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I agree it's not good for the people on the ground and the wildlife involved.
But aren't some of the companies responsible themselves?
Some of them became too greedy and lost their original focus and were blinded by the easy cash coming in.
It's quite interesting to know who was responsible for the massive upscaling seen in the last 5 years?
The companies looking for a more profitable market segment or the clients demanding all those luxuries.
Like in other industries, the ones responsible for this are not gonna suffer that much compared to the staff they employ.
Johan
But aren't some of the companies responsible themselves?
Some of them became too greedy and lost their original focus and were blinded by the easy cash coming in.
It's quite interesting to know who was responsible for the massive upscaling seen in the last 5 years?
The companies looking for a more profitable market segment or the clients demanding all those luxuries.
Like in other industries, the ones responsible for this are not gonna suffer that much compared to the staff they employ.
Johan
Nov 10th, 2008, 01:52 AM
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You are probably right, when times are good many people forget how quickly it can all go bad and if tourists are prepared to pay, then the lodges keep upping the charges. I am in business and it is an easy (if perilous) trap to fall into. For some tourists though, it is very hard to find the reasonably priced accommodations which will give a good deal. I don't want plunge pools and candelabras or private butlers … some people think that is necessary.
I feel for the staff who lose a job without much warning. No safety net, nowhere to get alternative work and most of it due to the vagaries of the Western world's money markets.
I hope an equilibrium is found quickly, especially in Kenya which has suffered so much already this year.
I feel for the staff who lose a job without much warning. No safety net, nowhere to get alternative work and most of it due to the vagaries of the Western world's money markets.
I hope an equilibrium is found quickly, especially in Kenya which has suffered so much already this year.
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