Early start to festive season

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay is enjoying a bumper holiday season already. It began a week earlier than usual.

Those involved in the tourist industry say they believe people wanted to arrive at their holiday destination as soon as possible because they were afraid President Cyril Ramaphosa might tighten lockdown rules and prevent travel between provinces.

The ATKV Hartenbos, the largest accommodation complex in the greater Mossel Bay area, reports that if is fuller, earlier than usual, for December.

It has extensive caravan parks, chalets, rondawels and also dormitory-type accommodation for backpackers or learners on school tours.

ATKV resort manager Mornay Beukes said: "We're usually full from 16 December to 3 January. It is usually the cherry on top if get occupancy in the periods before and after these dates. I use our four-bed units as a measuring gauge. There are 80 in the resort. They're usually 60 percent full from from 1 to 16 December, but this year they're almost fully booked."

PHOTO GALLERY: Bumper festive season for Mossel Bay

More people
Beukes said: "There are definitely more people here than in previous years. Because people were unsure of what might be announced by the president, they booked to come earlier so that they could be at their destination when any announcement on a stricter lockdown might be made." He said people's attitude was: "I'm not sure when I will get to go on holiday again, so I will take what I can get."

Beukes said: "We are grateful; we are blessed with the people being here. We're making up for last year, when there were many cancellations.

"We have the odd night open here and there, but nothing available for an extended period. We have a few spaces open in our backpacker dormitories, but the rest of the accommodation is booked up."

He said the arrival of holiday makers was more spread out. There was not the rush of arrivals on 16 December as was usually the case.

Mossel Bay Tourism chief operations manager Aneli Gerber echoed Beukes' sentiments: "I think people thought they should come to Mossel Bay earlier, in case the president imposed tighter restrictions." She said many businesses reported they had had a profitable November, showing there were holiday makers in town in November already.

Gerber said: "I'm overjoyed. All our hard work during the year has paid off." Mossel Bay Tourism launched a "Great escape to Mossel Bay" print, online and social media campaign last year, urging people to come to Mossel Bay when lockdown was eased.

The bustle and activities in Mossel Bay started earlier than usual this year.

Teens
When asked if she thought the cancellation of the annual Plettenberg Bay matric party had meant many of these matrics had come to Mossel Bay, she said: "I have seen a lot of teens around." She noted she saw teens checking out of an upmarket hotel, an indication that there was "money around".

Lorette Grobbelaar, who is in the tyre business in Mossel Bay and George, said: "I travelled through the district today and the talk of the day was that the season definitely started a week earlier. Everyone feels their accommodation is fuller earlier.

"People have Covid-19 fatigue. They simply want to escape and forget about everything. It is surprising there are so many visitors despite the increased petrol price.

"This proves the Garden Route is a choice destination."

Traditionally, Grobbelaar deals with foreigners and caravanners having tyre problems during December. She has been in the trade for 30 years, so she speaks about holiday maker trends from experience.

De Bakke Santos Resort manager Chris Viljoen said he was experiencing a quieter season than usual. The resort has self-catering chalets and a caravan park. He said a number of guests had cancelled because they had tested Covid-positive and also for other reasons. Although the chalets were full, he had camp sites still available.

It seems hotel occupancy and restaurant trade have not increased this year. Businessman Albert Wiffen, who owns hotels and restaurants in town, said: "This year is the same as every year, apart from last year."