It was a whopper

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - "The best festive season in five years."

This has been the feedback received after the peak December and January holiday period from some roleplayers in the tourism industry in Mossel Bay.

Tourism chief operational officer Aneli Gerber said: "The tourism office is so grateful to see all the hard work from the past two years has paid off for the area. Mossel Bay is top of mind and a firm favourite with domestic tourists and their loyal support is of great value to the whole Garden Route.

"Not only did Mossel Bay host staying visitors, but a significant increase in day visitors, who were overnighting in neighbouring towns.

"It was an excellent season and the feedback from tourism suppliers is positive, with most exceeding targets, revenue and expectations. Many have indicated it was the best season since the lockdown restrictions were introduced and some indicated it was a five-year record.

"The tourism sector is showing recovery and Mossel Bay Tourism will continue to ensure the domestic market is mined as much as possible until our international clients return to fill the seasonal gaps."

Much of the tourist activity took place at the Hartenbos Seefront, where concerts, pageants and the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks display took place.

Seefront Centre manager Denise Lloyd said: "There were more people than in December 2019. Because of the lockdown, that is the last season with which we can compare 2021.

The pageants at Hartenbos Seefront were a hit.

Many cars

"We had more than 1 500 cars per day in our parking area."

Lloyd noted that the weather "did not play ball" for the first part of the season, with cool temperatures, wind and rain.

"When our tenpin bowling opened on 3 December, we had lots of people who came because they were curious, especially younger people.

"Quite a few music artists performed at the SFM radio station open stage. People enjoyed that. All the performances were free. It is an open venue, so one cannot charge."

She noted that three shows held in the Walvis hall at the Seefront were well attended: Tobi Jooste and the Coolest Granny Competition, the Miss Hartenbos Seefront pageant and the Brendan Peyper concert.

A colour fun run on Hartenbos Beach on 19 December, in aid of the cancer charity, Pink Trees for Pauline, was also a hit, attracting 300 entries.

The fireworks display on New Year's Eve at Hartenbos Beach was truly spectacular. Lloyd explained that because the display was cancelled in 2020 due to the lockdown, fireworks that were supposed to be used last year, were used this year, so the display was longer and more spectacular than ever before.

President Cyril Ramaphosa cancelled the lockdown curfew especially for New Year's Eve.

There was a huge crowd stretched along the beachfront, watching the fireworks. Lloyd said: "A big thank you goes to law enforcement. In less than a half hour, all the people had moved out of the Seefront after the fireworks and there were no bad incidents and no drunkenness.

"People came forward after the display and said: 'Thank you so much; we needed this, to relax and be wowed.'"

The pageants at Hartenbos Seefront were a hit.

Lloyd pointed out that it was the only official fireworks display held in the Southern Cape. "All the other shows were cancelled, from Jeffrey's Bay to Hermanus. We opened the booms to the parking area that night, so no one paid for parking."

For some in the tourism industry, the cool, rainy weather was a season dampener.

Diaz Water Park manager Dirk Steyn said: "We did not do as well as we thought we would. We had to close the water park on some days, not only because of the rain, but the wind. Families are not spending as much money as before at the water park." Steyn said he would be making changes to the fees at the water park to make it more attractive for families.

Singer and celebrity Tobi Jooste with the winner of the Coolest Granny competition, Bridgette Tosen.

Successful

However, another operator at Dias Beach, Emile Nel, said he had enjoyed a successful festive season. He is the owner of the Chef's Emporium, Bahia Bleu restaurant and the Beach Bar at the Diaz Hotel and Resort.

Nel said: "We did better than in 2019. We had a lot of activity in front of the hotel, with 15 shows featuring music artists including Bok van Blerk, Demi Lee Moore, Neon Dreams and Joe Black.

"We collaborated with SA Concerts in providing the shows and they drew a lot of people.

"The crowds washed over into the restaurants and bars.

"We could have had better weather. Often for half a day the weather was not great.

"We had amazing service from the police. They had strict regulations. They did not want to suppress us, but control the public.

"The minibus taxis all co-operated as well. The festive season was a good sign for 2022. It shows great possibility for the future. The hospitality industry really needed it. It helped us to heal some of our wounds."

The winners of the Miss Hartenbos Seefront pageant: Nadia Cloete of Meyerton (front), first princess Mikayla Klerck of Pretoria (right) and second princess Liandi (Pixie) van Wyk of George.