Saturday 19 February 2022, Day 142 of Level 1 š·
Corona Lockdown Gratitude š
#grateful for a cool cloudy day, starting and ending with some drizzle, with a Sunday feeling; for a busy working morning, finalizing the Safari Tour bookings for next month, the hotels disappointing in their booking admin š±; for a Bakoven walk at lunch time, and an evening sunset walk; for Kfmās Blokparty, all music and no talk ššš; and for being happy, healthy and free. šš Continue reading →
The South African Restaurant industry is very close to collapse, and is in urgent need of a cash flow injection to survive, a major finding of a study conducted last month, as a follow-up to a survey which the Esus-Group conducted in June 2020. Ā The lifting of the alcohol ban from midnight tonight is a step in the right direction but the Curfew must be lifted too and the international borders must be opened, says Restaurateur Giles Blanc, and Co-Director of the Esus-Group, which has international Hospitality interests, and owns The 41 and The Korner restaurants in Cape Town. Blanc announced on Friday that he will soon reopen The 41 for the first time since Lockdown commenced in March. Ā Continue reading →
The Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has just announced the reopening of the Restaurant industry on Monday 29 June 2020, following the regulations as per below. The Minister apologised that the industry had to wait so long to receive the regulations and opening date, after the reopening of Restaurants for Sit-Down was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 17 June 2020!
Restaurants, coffee shops and take-away outlets may not seat more than 50 diners. Screening questionnaire per client, and no entry to diners not wearing a mask. Food Collection Areas must be demarcated. Persons receiving a meal via Delivery must wear a mask.
The Minister confirmed that no Alcohol consumption is allowed āon siteā. .Ā Continue reading →
In following a number of topics related to the Tourism industry, and being a member of the industry as a recently qualified Tourist Guide whose income has ground to a halt, the Tourism Relief Fund offered to the Tourism and Hospitality industry as financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic is of special interest to me. Earlier this week the Department of Tourism was sent court papers by civil rights organisation AfriForum, for its alleged discrimination based on race in its funding criteria. Industry talk also is that the Fund benefits larger formal tourist companies, and does not provide relief for hundreds of informal freelance operators such as Tourist Guides, the unofficial face of South Africa, in showing international travelers the highlights of our country. Continue reading →