LOCALS! Wipe the scowl off your faces (even if it’s just for this week) and smile at a stranger.
It could just be a holidaymaker.
Now, fellow “coasties”, please don’t get upset by that statement. Most people who are lucky enough to have a permanent home at any seaside hamlet or city tend to resent anyone from up-country invading their piece of paradise.
In fact, this attitude was so bad in Durban many years ago that some idiot draped a huge banner across the Tollgate Bridge on the main road into the city with words: “Vaalies, welcome to Durban… now @#$%! off.”
Needless to say, authorities whipped the banner down pretty smartly, but the identity of the saboteur remains a mystery to this day.
Unfortunately, that rather silly act sums up the attitude of many locals, some of whom were even overheard grumbling about the lack of parking at the Scottburgh Mall during holiday seasons.
Remember, holidaymakers are the price you pay for the privilege of living in a holiday town. The simple fact is: Scottburgh and our neighbouring hamlets wouldn’t be able to exist without them.
By all means, if you feel a need to get it off your chest, continue to whinge to other locals about lack of services, the empty Pavilion, etc., etc.
But, when it comes to strangers, be an ambassador for our coast.
During holiday periods especially, we can all play a vital role in marketing ourselves. All it will cost you personally is a smile and perhaps a chirpy greeting like: “Lovely day. Hope you’ve having fun.”
We want holiday people to go away saying they had a great, fun time… “and the locals are so friendly.”
No amount of marketing money spent by council or Ugu Tourism could match that. FOR MORE ‘MY TAKE’, CLICK HERE
