CLUB Med has said it
is “too soon to talk”
about its reported
plans to open a resort
on the northern coast of
KwaZulu-Natal.
This follows media
reports speculating
that the tour operator
plans to invest in part of
Tongaat Hulett’s mixeduse
development at Tinley
manor, north of Ballito.
“Negotiations with
an international resort
operator that has
expressed interest in
developing South Africa’s
first 20-hectare beach
resort at Tinley are well
advanced,” a report
published by Tongaat Hulett
reads.
Olivier Hannaert, md
of Club Med Southern
Africa, told TNW that while
the company is currently
exploring various options
and are looking for the best
opportunity, it is too early
to say anything.
However, he did add:
“One of Club Med’s goals
is to open a resort in
South Africa in the coming
years. This is a big focus
for us that will allow us to
address the
need by our South African
clientele and trade partners
for a Club Med resort in
South Africa.”
While the possibility of a
Club Med resort in South
Africa has caused some
excitement, agents say that
interest from the South
African market will be very
much dependent on price.
Both Jenny Jackwitch,
owner of Travel
Rendezvous, and Stephen
Howarth, travel operations
manager of Sure Travel,
point out that many South
Africans travelling locally
are on a tight budget.
Stephen says that if the
price at the resort is
comparable with a holiday
in Thailand, for example,
it won’t have much traction
in the South African
market.
