'Book holiday bargains now'

Johannesburg - With only about 130 days to go to Christmas, the time to book a year-end holiday is now as travel agents won't be able to sustain current low prices.

According to Robyn Christie, CEO of the Association of South African Travel Agents, travel packages are selling at very low prices. However, she also cautioned this may change.

"We advise operators not to continue the price-cutting; customers are getting confused and it's not healthy for the industry to keep undercutting," she said.

Resorts at popular tourist destination Mauritius, for instance, lowered their prices to lure travellers because the French - its main market - are opting for local travel rather than more expensive overseas trips.

"The hotels are dropping their prices to prevent them from standing empty over December," said Michael Tatalis, CEO of SA Tourism Services Association (Satsa).

He also said some hotels prefer to offer additional nights for free, rather than lower their prices.

"Game lodges like Shamwari bundle in extra nights for free and the Radisson in PE [Port Elizabeth] is offering free accommodation for guests from some of the game reserves in that area," Tatalis said.

According to Khehla Mthembu, group director of tourism services group Tourvest, consumers should take advantage of present bargains. "The specials have reached a special level of affordability; [travel agents] can't cut any more," he said.

- Fin24.com