In a poorly worded media statement, Cape Town Tourism has appealed to local tourism players to get vaccinated, to enhance the safety of our tourism industry, and enhance the attractiveness of Cape Town as a safe tourist destination.
It has also pleaded with the UK Government to remove SA from the ‘red list’, given that the Delta variant is now the main Covid threat, it no longer being the South African variant. Continue reading →
Despite the weaker Rand, international tourist arrivals have not increased dramatically as one would have expected. Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom has encouraged locals, Continue reading →
Statistics SA has confirmed what all in the hospitality industry have been experiencing – income from accommodation fell by 5 % in the April – June period compared to a year ago, reports the Weekend Argus.
Had the Confederations Cup and the British and Irish Lions Tour, and to a far lesser extent the IPL, not taken place in this quarter, the drop in accommodation revenue would have been even greater. June showed positive growth of 6 % on average, compared to the negative growth in April and May, proving that the IPL did not live up to its promised contribution to the economy and protection against the recession! June has been the only positive growth month this year so far.
In Cape Town RevPAR (revenue per available room) increased by 14 % in June, the first month in 2009 with a positive figure, based largely on two rugby matches in Cape Town, with rates having been increased to R 880 per room on average over the match days, and occupancy increased to 51 %, the first occupancy increase in the 12-month period.
Stats SA also records the “number of stay nights” to have decreased by 10 % compared to 2008, with hotel income dropping from R 1,99 billion in the second quarter of 2008 to R 1,86 billion in the second quarter this year, a 7 % decline. Guest house income grew by 2 %, and that of caravan parks and campsites by 8 % in the same period.
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