Monday 15 February 2010

And they wonder why the tourists have gone to Bulgaria...


Yes, it is a long headline, but its a frustrating one. It was valentines Day, so I did what every good husband should and took my wife out for a treat. I haven´t been down to the Safari centre for a while so I decided to take the family for a meal. Although it was Valentines day, it was also New Years day for the Chinese. This year is the prince of the jungle, the Tiger, and he must be in a very romantic mood. With all this happening, it had to be a Chinese Restaurant for a banquet. There are a few new ones now in the centre and they all look great, until you look at a Menu. OK I understand we are in recession, so lets put all the prices up? forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought it would be the other way around. The first restaurant had got San Val (the wine not the day) priced at 9 Euros for a half bottle. I am sure this very wine is available in Mercadonna for 3.50 a full bottle? This makes the very same wine 18 Euros? Which is by any standards shocking. My assumption of this is that they must also be buying a 2 Euro cut of meat and selling it me for 20, well if this is how we are trying to impress the tourists its no wonder we have none.
The centre itself was like a ghost town, along with Los Cristianos, and I really think if people want people, they need to look at what they are selling and say "Would I be happy to pay this" most of the staff in the restaurants would say no, like you and like me. The owners must have a strange impression of tourists, they obviously think they come from another planet, and simply throw money around regardless.
If a company wants to survive, Im sure its better to be reasonable about pricing and please the customers with good food, good service and most importantly value for money.
Next bus to Bulgaria please....

1 comment:

Unknown said...

This is correct. I am a tourist and we have been to Tenerife many times but when we were in September 2009 we noticed that the cost of everything has gone sky high. It is expensive enough to fly to there from Scotland so we don't want to pay over inflated prices at restaurants etc. Keep the prices good and you will get more trade and a quicker turnover. Word spreads.