![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/FC1A02CA-C96B-49EE-BFE9-C6DEE83C66C2.jpeg?resize=295%2C171&ssl=1\")
A Facebook post shared yesterday by leading hotels in Cape Town informs tourists about the water shortage in Cape Town and surrounding towns, and reassures them that they are welcome in the Cape and can still enjoy their holiday, despite a potential Day Zero scenario. <\/b><\/p>\n
\u2019A joint statement from leading hotels in Cape Town:<\/i><\/p>\n
The Western Cape of South Africa is experiencing a drought due to three consecutive years of lower than average rainfall. International visitors should be assured that Cape Town is and will continue to be both a viable and an incredible tourist destination. The message is clear \u2013 Cape Town is open for business and visitors can book with confidence.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nThe current situation creates innovative solutions \u2013 Government, citizens and the private sector are stepping up to the challenge to ensure visitors are not affected.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nTHE FACTS
\n\u2022 The drought is regionally specific and has not affected the rest of South Africa. Just 90 minutes away from Cape Town in popular destinations such as Hermanus, there are no water restrictions whatsoever.
\n\u2022 Nearby farming communities have contributed 10 billion litres to alleviate the situation.
\n\u2022 Cape Town\u2019s Mayor has vowed to \u201cnot allow a well-run city to run out of water\u201d and plans are being implemented to tap into other sources of water.
\n\u2022 The most senior officials working on this crisis firmly believe that although it will take an effort by all involved, Cape Town will avoid what has been called \u201cDay Zero\u201d.
\n\u2022 Day Zero is the hypothetical day when dam levels might fall below 13.5% and Cape Town residents would be restricted to 25litres of water per day in order to ensure that the dams do not run dry. It is NOT the day that Cape Town runs out of water.
\n\u2022 Even in the unlikely event of Day Zero visitors will still be able to enjoy the diverse and world-class experiences Cape Town and the Western Cape have to offer.
\n\u2022 Although sporadic, it continues to rain in Cape Town. The city is hopeful that winter rains will be sufficient to fill our dams.
\n\u2022 International tourists account for just 1% of water usage in Cape Town during peak season.
\n\u2022 The impact of tourism on water consumption is insignificant compared to the benefit that tourism brings to the city \u2013 tourism directly creates 320,000 jobs and brings with it around R40 billion in investment each year.
\n\u2022 Cape Town has already managed to bring down water consumption from prerestriction levels of 1.1 billion litres a day to current consumption of 585 million litres per day.
\n\u2022 A new desalination plant in the V&A Waterfront will produce 2 million litres of water per day\u201a and will be operational in March 2018.
\n\u2022 The new desalination plant will be one of a network of 8 desalination plants spread across the city. The plants will together provide 108 million litres of water per day.
\nCape Town\u2019s city centre has been designated a \u2018continuous water supply\u2019 area which means that the impact of a potential Day Zero will be minimal on international visitors.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nTHE MEDIA
\nMuch of the hype around the drought has been to ensure citizens are aware of the situation and that everyone is doing what they can to reduce consumption. A side effect of this awareness campaign has been a number of sensationalist headlines in the international press and \u2018fake news\u2019 about civil unrest.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nIt is important not to lose perspective in light of these headlines. Cape Town is not unique: droughts regularly affect dozens of top international tourist destinations. And many top destinations exist in far more severe climates.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nYOUR STAY
\nWhile all Cape Town hotels, bars and restaurants have taken extensive measures to reduce their water consumption, tourists are encouraged to be mindful of the situation and to play their part in the water conservation initiative.
\nAll hotels are making guests aware of the situation on check-in and through innovative communication techniques. Among other things, guests are encouraged to
\n\u2022 Limit shower times
\n\u2022 Flush toilets less often
\n\u2022 Reuse towels
\n\u2022 Not use bathtubs<\/i><\/p>\n
\nCape Town hotels remain confident of delivering an experience commensurate with that experience offered before drought conditions and as such cancellation policies remain unchanged. Although guests are asked to be mindful, their overall stay will not be affected and we look forward to welcoming international visitors to our remarkable city. South Africa has overcome many challenges in the past and will no doubt overcome this one. Now more than ever Cape Town needs the support of international tourists.<\/i><\/p>\n
PLEASE SHARE!\u2019<\/i><\/p>\n
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A Facebook post shared yesterday by leading hotels in Cape Town informs tourists about the water shortage in Cape Town and surrounding towns, and reassures them that they are welcome in the Cape and can still enjoy their holiday, despite a potential Day Zero scenario. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[7,3,124,35903,32565],"tags":[9409,32366,32378,36521,27,13,3251,1528],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t