With flexible booking conditions and extensive health and safety protocols in place, the Western Cape is ready to welcome travellers this festive season.
“Beyond ensuring our guests have all the information they need to assure them that Cape Town and the Cape are travel ready, we recognise that there may be some fear in booking that holiday because travel plans may change,” said chairperson of Fedhasa Cape, Jeremy Clayton.
“We have seen our Cape-based hospitality partners introduce flexible booking options to bring some confidence to our guests and assure them that they can book and travel with peace of mind. This, along with the unusual increase in capacity in Cape Town over the festive season, means that domestic and international travellers really are spoilt for choice as we ring in a new year.”
Fedhasa has reported that, although there has been a significant decline in occupancy in the Western Cape as a result of COVID-19 lockdown, many of the properties have reopened with stringent health and hygiene protocols in place. Lower rates are also on offer at numerous properties.
“We are open for business over the festive season and are optimistic that domestic travellers will take advantage of the extended holiday period over December and January to come to the Cape and restore their soul after a challenging 2020,” said Jeremy.
Along with the increased accommodation options, airlines have also introduced domestic flight specials to the Cape.
Wesgro and the Western Cape government have also launched their Safe Travels campaign, providing travellers with vital travel information, health and safety guidelines and other information through a new online portal.
Wesgro’s Annual Review for the financial year 2019/20 highlighted that, emerging from the drought in 2019, targets for leisure tourism had not only been met, but exceeded.
With media coverage worth R935,6m, 49 leisure events across the Western Cape had been supported, creating 4 896 temporary jobs and bringing over 292 400 visitors to the region, according to Wesgro’s report.
Similarly, the Cape Town and the Western Cape Convention Bureau, which is responsible for promoting Cape Town and the Western Cape to meetings, incentives conference and event organisers, secured 52 conference bids for the destination for 2021 and 2022 with a projected economic impact of R1,23bn.
“I’d like to congratulate the Wesgro team on their achievements despite a very challenging year. Wesgro plays an important role in in our economic recovery plans by attracting direct investment, by growing exports, by marketing destinations, and by boosting air access in the Western Cape,” said the Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier.
Wesgro ceo, Tim Harris, concluded: “Our work is cut out for us in this new financial year, but we have good momentum and the right team to deliver on our mandates. I would like to extend a special thank you to all our partners at all levels of government, and the private sector.”
