Record-breaking numbers visit Toti beaches

The beach attendance for December 2013 was 486,000, excluding visitor numbers for the 16, 26 and 27 December which added up to 186,000.

Beach attendance for January to date is 283,000, excluding 1 and 2 January which added up to 200,000 visitors.

“The accommodation occupancy was 100% with the overflow being circulated within our membership. We enjoyed visitors from Zimbabwe, thanks to a new Durban to Harare route launched recently.

Through our savings from local business support and coverage in the media, we reached just under R100,000 in value. Some 393 day jobs were also created,” said chairman Jacques van Schalkwyk.

Leading up to the summer season, Sapphire Coast Tourism embarked on a number of projects.

“We had more bridges painted. Why, you ask? It gave us a platform to educate our residents of who we are and what we do. It has brightened up some areas. It has motivated other departments. Most importantly, it stands out, forces us to maintain them and tells our visitors there is something different about us. A big thank you to local business support from Dafco Paints.”

Notice signs were put up on four of the beaches to bring attention to the rules and regulations in those areas.

Trees were wrapped in Beach Road to add to the organisation’s strategy plans of being different.

“We assisted the annual Beach Road night market to move onto the promenade as the law now dictates. We tied this in with our strategy plans of lighting up one of our assets, the promenade. We will continue south of the park this year. A big thank you to local business support from Glen’s Electrical.”

A new light box and paint job was requested for the tourism office. Locker facilities were offered on Toti Beach to assist and reduce the bag snatching from previous seasons. There were a couple of cases but a significant reduction of losses. Thank for business support from M-Projects.

“Without measure, there can be no growth. We put out survey sheets this season and look forward to completed ones.

These are some of the things we set in motion prior to the summer season. It is never one thing that will change or bring people to our area. But when everything starts falling into place, we will reap the benefits for years to come.”

If you have any constructive criticism or positive feedback, Jacques on chairman@totitourism.co.za .