Newsletter Summer 2013

By now the media, both written and print, has widely publicised the increase in numbers of visitors enjoying a holiday in Cape Town during this festive season. Table Mountain Cableway reported record season ticket sales for December 2012; increasing some 20% or 19,000 more visitors than were expected and the most in the 83 year history of the Cableway. It is believed that the really great weather that Cape Town enjoyed as well as Table Mountain's status as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature contributed to this increase. Most attractions reported healthy increased visitor numbers with Cape Point, Kirstenbosch National Gardens and V&A Waterfront satisfied with a 10% increase. The V&A Waterfront is surely South Africa's most-visited tourist attraction, attracting a total of 3,015,227 visitors in December 2012 alone.

Surprisingly, all these press releases, aimed at pumping up our Tourism Industry, made little mention of the fact that the increase in visitor numbers was mainly due to domestic tourism; that is visitors from Gauteng, KZN and other major cities looking to take a break from their work routines. In spite of our struggling economy, the average South African family still feels that they are entitled to a holiday break at the end of the year. We are sure that this sector of the market is growing rapidly due to the increasing number of black families who are now also joining the holiday crowds. It was apparent from the frustration of some of our callers that there was just not enough affordable accommodation in Cape Town to satisfy all those wanting to spend the festive season in our award winning city. Because we believe that the domestic market is a major source of growth for the tourist industry, and to encourage more visitors, we have taken a decision that we there will be no increase in our rates for 2013, making this the third successive year that we have held our affordable accommodation prices.

Not only do we offer rates to suit your family budget, but we have undertaken major improvements to our accommodation during the past year which includes upgrading the main bedrooms to King Size beds, providing all beds with new orthopaedic mattresses and our guests now enjoy the luxury of sleeping in white cotton percale. Our accommodation units have their own individual DSTV decoders, and all now have new flatscreen TVs as well as DVD players that are sure to be popular with in our child friendly accommodation, particularly on those on rainy days. Our large, sparkling outdoor pool now features a sundeck with comfortable imported Teak loungers and we have constructed a rustic wooden Lapa which will afford shelter for those who do not wish to spend the whole day in the sun and will also serve to break the south-east wind that we sometimes have to endure in the summer months . All in all, our guests are sure to find that we offer better value for money accommodation than ever before.

Whilst accommodation is in high demand by overseas visitors during the months of February and March local visitors, both from Cape Town and upcountry should take advantage of our even lower off-season rates when planning either a winter break or, perhaps, a visit to enjoy the spectacular wildflowers that bloom in the Western Cape in spring when we are also honoured to have the annual migration of whales from the Antarctic to our warmer waters. Not only will visitors find that accommodation rates are competitive when special offers abound but many of the local restaurants faced with declining traffic will have offers so attractive( such as 2 for the price of one) that many will not want to make use of the kitchens in our fully equipped self-catering holiday accommodation.