A preliminary study by the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism on the impact of the storms and flooding over Heritage Weekend shows the Overberg is one of the areas worst affected.
“It is vital for us as the Western Cape Government to get as much information as we can on the impact of the storm, so we are able to prioritise needs,” said Finance and Economic Opportunities MEC Mireille Wenger.
The department reported 91% of the responses received were from private businesses. “It is clear that state-owned attractions such as parks, botanical gardens, resorts and camping sites have also been affected,” the report stated.
Kleinmond, Hermanus and Betty’s Bay are among the five most affected towns based on responses to the survey.
The affected properties are predominantly accommodation establishments (38% of respondents), restaurants/bars/cafes (19%), wine tourism attractions (8%), trail networks (6%) and retail stores (6%). The department stated that 63% of respondents indicated they had to close their businesses temporarily as result of the storm damage.
“The tourism and hospitality sector really has been through the wringer over the last few years, but I am heartened by its resilience and unique ability to bounce back,” said Wenger.
“The sheer tenacity of this sector is remarkable – every person and business make a much-needed contribution to our economy and job creation. We need to do all we can to address the storm damage with purpose so that we can robustly weather any future extreme events.”
The minister concluded a bumper summer season was expected.
“To make sure we are ready to welcome visitors across the province I will host an industry-readiness event later this month, bringing key stakeholders from the tourism and hospitality sector together to discuss key preparations for upcoming summer, including the impact of, and mop-up after, the storm.”
