GEORGE NEWS - The tourism and hospitality industry is looking forward to a much busier season than last year. 

It is the first fully open season since the pandemic and George Business Chamber chairman Dr Willie Cilliers says businesses must make use of the opportunity to give top-notch service so that visitors return to the area.

According to George Tourism manager Joan Shaw they have already seen more international visitors coming into their offices, even from not-so-traditional markets such as the USA and Russia.

"International arrivals throughout the country have risen substantially, indicating that we will also have a longer season this year, as international guests return after the traditional domestic holiday season, stretching into the months of January, February and even March."

Shaw says many accommodation establishments have reported excellent bookings. "As usual most of the seaside accommodations, self-catering, camping and caravan facilities have been fully booked for some time over the festive season."

George Tourism is counting visitors at major attractions this year and will be surveying visitors to determine "push and pull" factors.

"This will allow us to better understand what holiday makers love and do not like so that we can improve our messaging and marketing to grow even more in the years to come."

Accommodation

Occupancy at Fancourt Hotel is the highest in years. Marketing manager Leroy Ferreira says it matches pre-Covid figures.

"The internationals are certainly back and this is all the way to March next year.

"Then it is school holiday again and another busy period starts.

"The first quarter of 2023 is certainly looking promising. This upswing is very welcome given the past two years of closed beaches and stop-and-start conditions we have had to deal with."

Inge de Klerk, owner of Oupa se Pitte in Herold's Bay, says her two self-catering units are fully booked. "It is as if people are hungry to get out.

"We have had a good year and our prospects for next year also look promising."

For Acorn Guest House in Kerk Street it is not yet as busy as hoped. "It is not fireworks. Perhaps many visitors will book at the last minute, like last year when they started booking from 20 December onwards," says the owner, Esther Horn.

Antoinette Holtzhausen, owner of the 4-star Makarios on Sea says, "It definitely does not look like previous years before the pandemic. I am not over-optimistic and think we could be in for a short season."

Restaurants

Massimo Mariotti, owner of Salinas Restaurant in Wilderness, has a positive outlook for the season. "Accommodation establishments are all full for the holidays and Europeans are looking at extended holidays after peak season due to the dire situation with power cuts and restrictions at home."

The restaurant has seen its revenue increase from August and has taken on an additional 18 staff in order to cope.

Meade Cafe co-owner Michael Underwood says they are expecting a busy holiday, but suspect it might be a shorter, more condensed season. "From what we have heard from the accommodation sector there seems to be a general busyness, which is good news.

"I think the Johannesburgers are fed-up with conditions up there. At least here in George the traffic lights work during load shedding and our roads are maintained."

Promoting George

Shaw says various promotional efforts by George Tourism have put the city in the spotlight and will keep the visitors coming throughout next year to combat seasonality. "The George Tens is being held from 15 to 18 December to kick off the festive season with a bang.

"In addition to rugby, there is netball, beach 'touchies', beach volleyball, golf, a trail run and fantastic shows every night at Outeniqua Park."

'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'