Cape Town, Durban tourist bookings up

THE Ebola scare, a struggling economy and new visa regulations will not keep tourists away from Cape Town and Durban this festive season.

Luxury hotels in the Mother City are mostly fully booked for the December holiday, with most now only able to offer single night availability.

Bookings have increased by up to 30% at some B&Bs and guesthouses.

By the second week of December, Durban accommodation establishments’ bookings will increase from 50% to 90%.

The upbeat market is at odds with the gloomy outlook in a report prepared by auditors Grant Thornton for the Tourism Business Council of SA, which was leaked last month.

It claimed that the new visa regulations, which came into effect on June 1, would amount to 100 000 job losses in the tourism industry.

At the time, tour groups from England, Germany and Russia were cancelling trips to South Africa due to fears of contracting Ebola, with a 70% drop in Chinese travellers.

But bookings tell a different stor y.

The Westin – fully booked over New Year – said this year’s occupancy rates were better than last year.

The 12 Apostles Hotel reported strong demand from international guests and a peak season occupancy rate of 98%.

Judy Lain, marketing officer at Western Cape’s Tourism Trade and Investment Office (Wesgro), expected a bumper summer.

eThekwini Tourism head Phillip Sithole said almost one million visitors were expected to land on Durban’s shores this festive season, of whom at least 100 000 would be international tourists.