Tourists provide positive feedback

Visitors highlight events, cleanliness

Parking, water, roads, and the raised expectations of new investors and visitors were the biggest challenges for Kenton-on-Sea and Bushmans River Mouth during the holiday season.

Kenton & Bushmans Sunshine Coast Tourism chair Justin Wilmot was reporting back at a meeting held at the Volo, in Kenton, on January 31.

More than 100 people attended the event.

Summarising the results of an online survey Wilmot said: “We need to learn to adapt and be better: to under-promise and over-deliver.

“The weather wasn’t great, but there is nothing we can do about that,” he said.

According to the survey 88% of the respondents said they had experienced a season which was either the same, better or the best ever. The top reasons for a good season were fantastic entertainment (87%), a wide selection of events (81%), local business had provided great service (75%), feeling safe low crime (83%), the villages were neat and clean (85%), while 62% said the beaches and rivers were up to standard.

Wilmot said the fact that only 57% of the respondents said local business provided most of what the visitors were looking for presented an opportunity.

Honourable mentions were made for service providers on call, the municipality, and the area’s launching facilities.

Just under half of those who responded thought the season had lasted as long as last year, slightly fewer said it was a longer season than last year.

According to the respondents, the highlights were The Backyard’s live music venue, the new Volo complex, including the Padel courts and beach bar, Jerry’s on the Dune, and the vibe with all the coffee outlets down the Kenton village centre.

The ever popular Seagull Regatta had set a new world record, and the Kenton/ Bushmans community had benefited to the tune of R1.4m, Wilmot said. The Boknes Woody Cape cycle race had also been a success.

“Clean beach ablutions, clean towns, no load-shedding, and making people feel welcome and being generally friendly also boosted the impression of the area,” he said.

Residents and visitors had found the daily updates from the tourism office useful.

Local security company HiTec reported minimal crime.

The Kenton Town Hall Art Exhibition raised more than R160,000 and the NSRI’s Survival Swimming programme was making a difference.

On the negative side, there were the continuing infrastructure concerns of potholes, inadequate waste collection and inadequate water provision.

Dog faeces on the beaches and owners who didn’t adhere to by-laws were challenges.

Parking in the CBD, people selling prawns on the roadside and issues with launching facilities were other concerns.

Awards were made to:

1. Pam Golding for the best Christmas window display.

2. Robbie and Simon Avis in recognition of their service to the community.

3. Dale Cunningham, from Seagull Regatta, in recognition of his contribution to tourism and the community.

4. Nomawethu Ngqanqu for her work in the Kenton community.

5. Round Table Alex Kenton 210 for their contribution to tourism.

6. SAPS station commander Tommie Parkinson, for support to COBT and the community.

7. The Volo Group, in recognition of their Padel courts facility and major renovation in record time for season.

8. The unsung hero of “Main Street” Kenton, Adrian Purdon, who remains passionate about the cleanliness, the order and the law in the CBD.

9. Dilly Deli for their “gees” and service to the Kenton community.

10. In recognition of business marketing innovation, the Kenton home chef, Mark Taverner, with his TukTuk.

A minute’s silence was observed for Jade Prinsloo, who died in an accident on the Kariega River Bridge on the R72, weeks before her 16th birthday.

Wilmot highlighted the safety issues that surrounded that tragic event.

A letter had been sent to SANRAL but there had been no reply.