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By Boipelo Mere 
3h ago
Kimberley – It remains to be seen whether the coastal areas of the North Cape will be able to cope with the much anticipated influx of tourists and the expected demand for accommodation in the coastal cities of the province.
Part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the country would enter a tight Level 3 lockdown through January was the news that only beaches in non-hot locations would be open to the public.
The Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said Tuesday that the North Cape is the only province where the beaches will remain open to the public.
The beaches will only be open between 6 am and 7 pm and will be monitored for compliance with all health protocols and social distancing measures.
Neither the North Cape Tourism Authority nor the municipalities of these coastal cities could confirm whether there was increased interest in holiday bookings.
However, a Port Nolloth resident indicated that there was already an influx of cars and people to the Namakwa, Hondeklip Bay and Kleinzee coastal routes.
He stressed that tourists have already started pitching tents on local beaches.
“We are used to the influx of visitors during this time of year. I think this is due to the remoteness of our area that attracts tourists to this region. But this year there seems to be already an increase. It is currently higher than the usual rate during this time of year. Vehicles come from everywhere, ”said the resident.
Jeanine Jezznits, from the Namakwa Coastal Route, noted the large number of interest calls from potential tourists looking to visit the small local dormitories in the district for a beach experience due to the closure of the KZN and Western Cape beaches.
He indicated that his role is to recommend accommodation in the Kleinzee area.
According to Jezznits, there are still establishments that can accommodate individuals and smaller groups of people, but guests in larger groups may encounter challenges finding accommodation at this stage.
“We had a quiet season this year that we can’t complain about, but our beaches are getting the attention we’ve always been craving for,” Jezznits said.
However, he cautioned guests to take the necessary precautions regarding Covid-19 regulations to avoid an unnecessary outbreak due to the limited medical resources available in small towns.
“Our guests must also take the necessary precautions and act responsibly,” he concluded.
DFA
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