After difficult years for the hospitality industry due to the Covid pandemic, guest house owners and restaurants are smiling from ear to ear after a successful Absa Cape Epic that started in Hermanus last Tuesday.
Many agree the financial impact the Overberg experienced as result of this cycle tour cannot be overlooked. It was not only during the Cape Epic that an increase in tourists and cyclists flocked to the region, but also before the prestigious event.
A lodge manager in the Grabouw area said the area is a popular destination for MTB riders.
“Rated as the mecca of MTB in South Africa and home to Wines2Whales and the Cape Epic races this is a favourite MTB route for many,” she said. “Cyclists, especially from other countries, visited the area beforehand to experience the trails.”
Stage 3, the transition stage from Hermanus to Oak Valley in the Elgin Valley, attracted a lot of spectators. It was not the first time the event had been hosted at the Oak Valley Estate. The last time was in 2019.
The chair of the Hermanus Business Chamber Marc de Maudave Bestel said the Cape Epic definitely had a huge financial and economic impact on the hospitality sector including restaurants, hotels and guest houses. His two restaurants were very busy from Thursday to Monday.
“Restaurants and accommodation establishments experienced a huge boost. There was a natural flow down to shops and other businesses, bringing a positive economic injection. Everything ran smoothly and the organisers need to be congratulated as well as the Overstrand Municipality and traffic control who also had to manage temporary road closures and the protest march on Monday. The volume of exposure was immeasurable.
“Being one of the major cycling races in the world, we enjoyed global television and social media coverage all over the world. The business and tourism sectors are very grateful that our area is included in this international event annually, and it must continue at all costs,” De Maudave Bestel said.
