FINANCE: Bay enjoys tourism sizzler

Accommodation survey points to sizzling holiday season – for metro

PRELIMINARY results from Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism’s (NMBT) December accommodation occupancy survey point to a sizzling summer season in the Bay, with both the number of bed nights sold and the number of foreign visitors to the region showing significant increases over December 2015.

While the results are preliminary, NMBT chief executive Mandlakazi Skefile hailed the season as successful, with tourists from across the globe being impressed with the destination’s tourism offerings.

The full results are expected to be released next month.

She said ideal weather, along with festive events and activities, had allowed tourists to experience not only the beach but also a variety of wildlife, heritage and adventure activities, contributing to a nearly 7% increase in the number of bed nights sold and a nearly 9% increase in bed nights bought by foreigners.

The survey results show that last month about 393 615 bed nights were sold in the metro at an average occupancy of 79.34%, which is up by 6.98%.

“In the region of 267 848 overnight visitors came to the Bay and collectively spent about R402 766 150, up from R357 429 685,” Skefile said.

“[Last month] 72 226, or 18.35% of the total bed nights were taken up by foreigners, compared with 30 462 or 8.72% of the total, the previous year.”

She said formal accommodation facilities had reported that people from Germany, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Australia and Brazil made up the top 10 foreign nationalities to have visited the Bay last month.

City Lodge Hotel Group spokesman Angus Macmillan said it had experienced a positive season in its five hotels in the Bay.

“The Courtyard and the City, Town and Road Lodges all enjoyed a positive season,” he said.

“Occupancy across the portfolio was slightly up.”

Radisson Blu Hotel assistant general manager Mark Huppelschoten said the hotel had had a good season.

“We had a slight increase in overall occupancy, and also an improvement in revenue,” he said.

“We also noted an increase in the numbers of domestic tourists.”

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber chief executive Kevin Hustler said: “Tourism and leisure play an important role in the diversification of Nelson Mandela Bay’s economy.

“The tourism industry is a critical growth sector for the Bay, and it has immeasurable potential to become a major contributor to the economy of [the metro].

“Experts say that for every eight foreign tourists visiting South Africa, one local job is created.

“We have to harness this momentum and create a sustainable tourism sector that continues to bring people to Nelson Mandela Bay for many years to come.”