Despite the tourism industry being knocked flat for the past six months, Dundee’s own French lady, Elisabeth Durham, has lost none of her flamboyance.

The first blossoms of spring have gotten Elisabeth bustling around in her garden at her B&B, Chez Nous, and she last week hosted a delegation from the Tourism Dundee Committee to treat them to homemade bread, muffins and her famous cappuccino.

With tourism having come to a complete standstill because of the lockdown, like all other hospitality-driven businesses, Chez Nous has seen zero income since March.

“Chez Nous has been running for the past 20 years at 39 Tatham Street and these past few months have been the hardest,” Elisabeth said.

“We started in 2000 with four rooms and added on another seven when we transformed the adjacent property at 104 Ryley Street. Yes, tourism has taken the worst knock ever and many establishments will fall. I think the ones that will survive are not the largest businesses, but rather the ones that have a minimal debt to repay. Borrowing money and over expansion are killers in these difficult times.

“Things will never be the same; each business has to look at how to adapt, change its ways and run an even tighter ship.”

See this week’s Courier for the full report on how tourism needs to change to survive

Read more: Grey cloud hovers over tourism and hospitality sector

HAVE YOUR SAY: Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at dundee.courier@caxton.co.za.  Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394