KwaZulu-Natal is bursting at the seams

South Coast – Lower South Coast holiday spots are so popular that when one batch of tourists check out of their accommodation, others are already queueing up to move in. A holiday letting agency has told Deborah Ludick, the general manager of Hibiscus Coast Tourism, that this particularly applies to the Uvongo and Ramsgate areas.

“We’re still incredibly busy here and there is no let up. The occupancy rate is between 95-100 percent, especially in Margate, Ramsgate and Uvongo. Even in some of the quieter areas, like Hibberdene, there is an 80 percent occupancy rate” she said.

The large shopping centres – Shelly Centre and the South Coast Mall – had been “absolutely chaotic” and had reported a 10 percent increase in business in the week before Christmas. John Skene, chairperson of Hibiscus Coast Tourism and of the area’s Bed and Breakfast Association, reported that all the 36 members had been fully booked since December 15.

Over in Ballito on the North Coast, tourism information officer Cheryl Peters reported a “very, very busy season that was most definitely busier than last year.” The area still had an 80 percent occupancy rate and she expected it to be busy until this week.

“I even know one family who moved out of their home so that they could let it out to holidaymakers,” she said. The beaches were packed and although the bad weather “played a bit of a negative part,” the local shops were not complaining, as they benefited.

Hoteliers, meanwhile, have told Alan Vels, chairperson of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), that it had been a “very successful” season, and as busy as last year, even though there was “a bit of a lull” between Christmas and New Year.

He welcomed and praised the visible presence of police on Durban’s beaches, and said he trusted this measure could now be maintained. (The extra policing followed the rape and robbing of a French tourist early in the season.)

While it is far too early for Tourism KwaZulu-Natal to give exact details of the number of domestic and international visitors to the province (only available at season’s end), the organisation has predicted figures of around 2,3-million domestic holidaymakers and “at least” 100 000 international visitors, who were likely to inject an estimated R2,6bn into the economy.

Chris Hearn, of the Central Drakensberg Information Centre, said self-catering accommodation was “absolutely chock-a-block” as it was ideal for people wanting to celebrate Christmas with their families.

The resorts were also full, with 80 percent of visitors to the region domestic tourists. Overseas holidaymakers liked to spend Christmas with their families and then come to South Africa in January.

A couple of shops complained of lower receipts, but they had to take into account that Christmas Day changes every year and that with most visitors working until Friday, December 22, before going on holiday, they were not likely to do their Christmas shopping in the Drakensberg.

The area was still full, although not overflowing. In the Southern Drakensberg area, information officer Michael Dlamini said that with hotels and B&B’s 90 percent full, he had struggled to find accommodation for visitors.

Exemvelo Wildlife accommodation was “largely full”, said spokesperson Jeff Gaisford – and, as usual, some visitors had already booked ahead for next year’s Christmas/New Year holidays. B&B’s throughout the province were “full, full, full”, a Durban spokesperson for the National Accommodation Association said on Thursday.

There were so many tourists at Amanzimtoti area beaches on the newly-named Aliwal Coast that parking was difficult to find, said Frank Horn, head of the local publicity association.

Source: www.ioltravel.co.za

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