National parks releases Match-reserved accommodation back onto the market
South African National Parks (SANParks) is releasing a large portion of the accommodation that it had reserved for the World Cup back onto the general market tomorrow (4 March 2010).
In an agreement made in 2007 between SANParks and Fifa's ticketing, accommodation and event IT services company Match, SANParks agreed to contract a maximum of 30% of its inventory for use over the tournament period. Specific release periods were agreed to if the inventory was not sold on time by Match.
SANParks managing executive of tourism and marketing, Glenn Phillips, said that 9132 room nights were released back into the market in December last year and a further 14 731 room nights are being released tomorrow. In addition, an agreement was reached recently in which all remaining unsold inventory still held by Match will be released back to SANParks with immediate effect.
"This is good news for our loyal South African visitor base as this means they will now have further opportunity to book their favourite SANParks destinations," says Phillips.
He adds that normal rates will apply, with no price increases being effected. Kruger National Park camps, Berg-en-Dal, Pretoriuskop and Skukuza will also be available to the public on Thursday.
Phillips says that during the event period, much focus will be on the Skukuza camp, one of the three camps that received a reasonable amount of reservations for the World Cup period.
"It is against this background that we would like visitors that will be booked in Skukuza to take note of the 2010 activities as the camp will not be business as usual," he notes.
He says that due to high demand in Kruger, most inventory will be open to the members of the public on Thursday, 4 March at 7:30am. However, the rest of the national parks are currently available on the reservation system.
The parks and camps available include Mapungubwe - Tshugulu Lodge; Mapungubwe - Leokwe Camp; Golden Gate - Basotho Cultural Village; Golden Gate - Brandwag Hotel; Wilderness - Ebb and Flow South Camp; Tsitsikamma - Storm River Mouth Camp; Mountain Zebra National Park Main Camp; Karoo National Park Main Camp; Addo Elephant National Parks Main Camp; Bontebok - Langelsieskraal; Mokala - Lilydale Rest Camp; Mokala - Mofele Lodge; Mokala - Mosu Lodge; and Augrabies Main Camp.
Phillips notes that normal booking conditions will apply and guests can contact one of the many reservation offices, or book through the web site, travel trade or group bookings.
In conclusion, Phillips notes that SANParks' strategy for 2010 was to ensure that its loyal local market would be recognised and "we would not displace this market, hence the 30/70 split."
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