Bumper festive season for North Coast as accommodation sector virtually booked out
iLembe Chamber of Commerce CEO Cobus Oelofse said accommodation space will only become available from January 6.
The North Coast has a long-standing reputation as a favoured holiday destination with its many drawcard events, subtropical environment and magnificent beaches.
This year should be no different.
According to tourism, marketing, investment and promotions manager at Enterprise iLembe, Cheryl Peters, reports from the accommodation sector paint a positive picture.
“Tourism operators indicate close to 100 percent occupation rate with more enquiries still being made. Everything points to a bumper holiday season, which is good considering the hospitality sector is a crucial driver of the local economy,” said Peters.
iLembe Chamber of Commerce CEO, Cobus Oelofse said the accommodation sector locally was fully booked, with space only becoming available from January 6.
“Although feedback has varied, the consensus is that our region’s tourism figures have recovered to pre-Covid levels and, in some cases, improved on those figures,” said Oelofse.
Further boosting the region’s status was last month’s announcement that three local beaches – Willard Beach, Thompson’s Bay and Blythedale Beach – were awarded Blue Flag status.
Top quality entertainment, backed up by strict security initiatives to ensure orderly public behaviour, are of course key components in ensuring the North Coast remains a destination of choice.
Last Friday, Ballito Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Morné Steffens said incidents requiring law enforcement intervention had been minimal.
He said the collective effort between the KwaDukuza municipality’s protection services, police, security companies, community policing forums and neighbourhood watches to combat unruly behaviour and crime had clearly paid off.
On the entertainment front, among a number of leading South African artists visiting the region this month, Ballito Big Week has kept the momentum going and is bringing in more visitors.
The music festival at Ballito Canefields (off Esenembi Road) kicked off last Thursday with a stellar performance by DJ Black Coffee, with the line-up having included other top artists such as Sona, Enoo Napa, Lemon & Herb, Caiiro and DJ Merlon.
Organiser Greg Walsh of G&G Productions said they chose to stage the event in Ballito owing to it being a prime holiday location.
Photo: Bradley Stevens | Taylored Films.
“We really look forward to growing the event on the North Coast,” he said.
A number of epic events are still set to run at Ballito Big Week, with Zakes Bantwini closing off the show on January 1.
Tickets are available at bbw.howler.co.za.
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