Dear Editor,
I read in the March 22 edition of the Algarve Resident that Zoomarine celebrated its official reopening for the 2013 season and was offering a 50% discount to all residents of Algarve.
I am surprised that Zoomarine thinks this is a good offer. From a marketing point of view, I would think it is quite the opposite.
In my opinion it positions Zoomarine as greedy. You are only entitled to the offer if you bring a utility bill (?) for proving that you live in the Algarve. This leaves the rest of the family to pay full price or stay home.
Why not instead make a “happy day” in the Algarve and give 50% to all? That way one would get satisfied visitors spreading the word about Zoomarine and the Algarve, as well as offering the newly employed Zoomarine staff an ideal training opportunity for the season ahead.
50% discount if you prove that you live in Algarve appears to me rather petty, stupid and exclusionary.
Certainly not an offer Zoomarine should be proud of and I can’t see how this fulfils their mission: to transport adults and children to a world of adventure and fantasy; to make them smile and dream, and to stimulate their emotions.
And in closing: I bought an “electronic ticket” over the internet to get my 20% internet discount, but eventually ended up having to print out an A4 sheet.
For your information Zoomarine: It’s not electronic ticketing: it’s called Prepay.
A Grumpy Resident (name supplied)
