Today we publish an anonymous letter, featured on Southern African Tourism Update on 22 November 2009, which supports the Whale Cottage accussation that MATCH is responsible for rip-off pricing, and not the non-MATCH registered establishments!
“It is my opinion that MATCH is also guilty of price gouging. I recently had an enquiry from one of my regular Mozambique corporate clients who wanted to put together an incentive for their top executives and clients. This was a group of 100 people. I managed to find reasonably priced accommodation and transfers for them in Cape Town. They were going to charter a flight from Maputo to Cape Town for the weekend.
The problem came in trying to purchase the tickets to the match.
I was unable to purchase more than four tickets for the quarter final that was taking place in Cape Town. I was told by MATCH hospitality that they could only offer series tickets with a starting price of US$8 500 per person.
I eventually contacted FIFA in Switzerland as these clients did not want series tickets and MATCH could then “all of a sudden” help with a single ticket for the game that they requested. However, they would only offer a hospitality package the cost of which was US$2 500 per person.
This includes a Category 1 ticket in the stadium, access to a hospitality tent, buffet lunch and beer, wines, soft drinks and a parking pass.
The online cost of a Category 1 ticket is US$300 per person. So they were charging US$2 200 per person additional just for lunch and drinks.
If that is not price gouging then I don’t know what is!
There was no option to just purchase normal Category 1 tickets and no way for me to do this. I tried a number of tour operators who told me that they were unable to assist with match tickets for non-SA residents.
Due to this I have lost a really lucrative booking as these clients have decided for that amount of money they are not willing to travel to South Africa.
I must say that I am exceptionally disappointed that MATCH made no provision for incentive groups for the FIFA 2010. Due to this I have lost a booking in excess of R900 000
Anonymous”
Today we publish an anonymous letter, featured on Southern African Tourism Update on 22 November 2009, which supports the Whale Cottage accussation that MATCH is responsible for rip-off pricing, and not the non-MATCH registered establishments!
