Bumper season predicted

Rage unofficially kicked off what is the busiest time of year on the Dolphin Coast.
Tens of thousands of people flock to the Dolphin Coast over the festive season every year.
Lifestyle Centre co-owner Bruce Rencken says there has been a definite up-tick in the amount of visitors already.
“After 10 years I think we know what to expect and we are prepared,” said Rencken. He is also optimistic that the upgrade of the P445 should not affect business either.
“I think traffic will be the same as last year, the builders will clean up and reinstate the road to pre-construction flows so there should not be much of a difference,” he said.
Ballito real estate agencies say available accommodation has already been fully booked by holiday visitors. Barbara Shingler of Ballito Estates says the holiday season is going to be a busy one.
“We are fully booked for the rest of December,” said Shingler. The agency would have been busier after getting plenty of interest from Matric pupils coming into Ballito for Rage, but they do not cater to matrics.
The road upgrades have not seemed to put a damper on visitors holiday plans. Shingler thinks visitors are unaware of the extent of the road works and bookings were unaffected.
Local nightclubs have been pumping with visitors. Crush nightclub owner Blair Lock has been blown away by this year’s Rage.
“It has been phenomenal. So far it has been the best Rage we have ever experienced, even since the days of Bostons,” said Lock. Patrons drank the club out of alcohol on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with over 1300 people visiting the club each night respectively.
These numbers are just at the beginning of the holiday season. With the popular New Years Eve street party coming up, business will only get better for local restaurants, pubs and clubs.
KwaDukuza beach manager Steve Honneysett has made provisions for thousands of beach goers expected to soak up the sun this holiday. More lifeguards and equipment have been provided for the holiday season. He estimated that  60 000 people were on North Coast beaches on New Years day.
However not everyone was so upbeat about holiday-makers coming to town and expressed their feelings on the Courier’s Facebook page.
Esperanza Patricia Hewitt feels that the Rage is not what it used to be.
“Back in the day I thought this was a festive time, maybe age has brought intolerance with it, but these kids do not bring revenue into the town, only a lot of filth, rudeness and noise beyond an acceptable level. The fun has gone out of it,” she said.
Despite these sentiments many residents said they welcomed holiday-makers and that in many ways the local economy depends on these visitors.