MAKE MOTHER CITY SAFE FOR TOURISTS

AFTER trying to find some links to YouTube videos promoting Cape Town I instead came across too many negative vlogs too.

There are just a proliferation of YouTube videos criticising safety in Cape Town, bombarding social media and the internet.

Statements such as, “Too many homeless people. You can’t even walk from your hotel to the Waterfront”, etc is the norm rather than the exception.

Maybe City authorities need to see these videos and improve safety and security in our streets.

Our city centre cannot become a curfew zone if we are to remain a world-class tourist distinction.

In almost any other quality city, tourists don’t even think twice about walking around after dark, but not here in Cape Town, not even during broad daylight.

Maybe all old statues, monuments and historic buildings should be floodlit or encouraged to be lit up. (LED spotlights are very economical and effective) to make Cape Town more friendly looking, attractive and less dark and scary at night. (“Cape Town is filling up with homeless from the whole of Africa and scaring tourists away.”)

A lot more is needed to make tourism safer and more relaxed. They are being scammed, tricked, mugged and even attacked despite their fear of going anywhere after dark.

The City needs to clean up all the grime and sleaze, both literally and figuratively. Hotels and guest houses need to encourage authorities to take a more active role in return for their rates and taxes and the tremendous boost tourism brings to this part of Africa or else face losing it and losing out to other long-haul destinations around the world. AGI ORFANOS | West Beach