Dutch businessman cancels pricey family holiday to SA

Source: Tourism Update, 24/11/2015

A Dutch traveller recently cancelled a trip to SA with his 13-year-old
daughter because of SA`s regulations for children under 18 years.



Pieter Kerkhof, Owner of Netherlands-based Sable Tours, has written an
open letter after a high-profile traveller cancelled his plans after
being told about SA`s requirements for travellers under the age of 18.



Dear Mr Hanekom, Mrs Xasa, Ms Moola, Ms Titus and the other honourable
minister again... oh yes, Mr Gigaba,
I know how busy everyone must be, so this is just a short note.


Please just take note in your busy schedule, it might be
worth thinking about.


It is late November and the usual scramble for last-minute bookings to
South Africa is in full swing again.


We received a request from a client a few days ago who wanted to
travel to SA in December for 10 days. His request came with the good
news that budget plays a rather small role in all his travel plans and
that he wanted a trip that suited his wishes.


With help from my partners in the industry, we secured the requested
quality accommodation with service excellence that can be expected and
we sent through a quote to him within 24 hours after he first
contacted us.


After a few tweaks and questions that were answered to his
satisfaction, he felt that a commitment was due and he gave us the
assurance that he would like to book after his business trip from
China one day later. We told the client that when travelling with his
13-year-old daughter there were regulations in place for parents with
children under 18 years.


I will spare you the details but, as it turned out, the (recently)
divorced father will now not be travelling in business class as per
our quote with SAA to South Africa. Neither will he stay at the
accommodations that we had in mind – total value R69 496,50; and that
is just my payments to the accommodations. This does not include his
transfers, flights with SAA, meals, activities, tips and personal
spending.


I know this is not a lot of money for some at least. I know that there
will be people who say that they never see one penny of it. I read the
comment from Mpho this morning about Idris Elba`s same situation ...



I suppose at the end of the day it does not matter. I just sometimes
wonder if the plight of children in South Africa has now been solved?
We wish you all a wonderful Christmas season and prosperous 2016.