Ballito residents Desiree and Lynell Bunger write:

Referring to the article published last week (Courier, ‘Holiday bookings surpass last year, December 13). The advert of Airbnb and similar platforms has changed the rental market on the North Coast, but has this benefitted the town, boosting the Ballito economy or are they causing more harm than good?

Herewith my occupancy stats at The Vineyard on Ballito Guest House:

• 2018 – 73.5%
• 2019 – 67.7%
• 2020 – 62.2%
• 2021 – 75.6%
• 2022 – 89.6%
• 2023 – 84%
• 2024 – 51%

All short-term letting seems to be up in occupancy but hotels/guest houses/B&Bs are down.

I am 100% in favour of the local economy being boosted by the influx of holiday makers. But it needs to be a win-win situation for all business on the North Coast.

I’m not sending this email because I have “sour grapes” – there is a lot of competition in Ballito and as a registered business in Ballito its very worrying. I asked the National Accommodation Association members how their reservations are for December (on the coast) and everyone is down by 30-40%. And the general response is “too much bad publicity about beaches here and also so many unlicensed properties to compete with”.

Just some food for thought.

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