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Summer Season Expectations |
The survey was distributed by CapeInfo, Cape Town Tourism, Fedhasa and the Guest House Association of SA.
Returns to date (20 Nov 2003)
| Total |
Hotels |
Guest Houses/
B&B's |
Self-catering |
Backpackers |
Tours &
Travel |
Other |
| 342 |
55 |
129 |
50 |
7 |
60 |
41 |
Breakdown by size of accommodation establishments
| Less than 10 rooms |
133 |
| 10–30 rooms |
48 |
| 30–80 rooms |
22 |
| 80–200 rooms |
17 |
| over 200 rooms |
2 |
The most important question... how are hospitality businesses doing?
| |
Average |
Hotels |
GH/B&B's |
Self-Cater |
Tour/travel |
Other |
| Busier than last year |
39% |
44% |
35% |
34% |
42% |
44% |
| About the same |
24% |
16% |
30% |
30% |
17% |
20% |
| Less busy |
28% |
36% |
26% |
24% |
35% |
20% |
| Concerned |
9% |
4% |
9% |
12% |
6% |
19% |
Since last year was arguably the best season Cape Town has ever experienced, these figures are very encouraging. Many of the
hotels who said they are 'less busy' still report occupancy figures of over 90%. Accommodation establishments faring the worst
appear to be largely in the country areas. Larger hotels/groups evidently also benefit from their more extensive marketing
resources. Backpacking
establishments are excluded from the above table because of their small number, but 57% report that they are busier than last year.
| Occupancy levels |
% of establishments |
| 90%+ |
30% |
| 70–90% |
36% |
| 50–70% |
23% |
| 30–50% |
9% |
| less than 30% |
2% |
Who does the Cape cater for?
Well, this was a surprise but, in hindsight, it shouldn't have been. Cape Town is an upmarket destination; not as popularist as,
for example, Durban or Port Elizabeth. Businesses react accordingly and this is who they target:
| 4/5 star market |
57% |
| 3 star market |
30% |
| Families |
7% |
| Budget travellers |
6% |
Where are responding businesses based?
| City Bowl & Waterfront |
29% |
| Sea Point/Camps Bay |
15% |
| Other |
15% |
| Garden Route |
7% |
| South Peninsula |
6% |
| Overberg |
6% |
| Winelands |
5% |
| Blaauwberg |
4% |
| Northern Suburbs |
4% |
| Helderberg |
3% |
| Hout Bay/Llandudno |
3% |
What are the impediments to tourism growth?
| Airline access to Cape Town |
18% |
| The strength of the Rand |
30% |
| We're pricing ourselves out of the market |
23% |
| Competitive destinations value-for-money packaging |
15% |
| Not really any impediments |
14% |
One should ask the question whether the Rand's recent strengthening would have already impacted on the current bookings. Most
foreign visitors will have made their bookings for this time of year some time ago. Is the Rand's strength becoming tourism's
new bogeyman? The strengthening of the Rand will not impact on South African tourism; yet many businesses which listed South
Africans as their major market raised the strength of the Rand as the major impediment.
For foreign tourists, since the cost of air tickets should not increase, booking less expensive accommodation is an option.
Many foreign tourists would never have been able to afford 4/5 star accommodation closer to home, was it not for the weaker Rand.
Further comments received
Local prices received most comments, and SA National Parks (entrance & funicular fees), V&A Waterfront (parking tariffs) and golf courses were
singled out for unrealistic increases.
The impact of the ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel ("with 176 295 room nights a year") and their opening discounts was noted, as was
the (pre-strong Rand) cost increases in the local film industry that saw less business in this sector.
Many believe the impact of the stronger Rand is yet to be felt – guests will stay for shorter periods. Eastern Europe
and Australia are the main competitive destinations.
Guest Houses, B&B's and self-catering accommodation face special challenges. The need to offer greater value
(such as including tours) and getting airlines to offer Fly/Stay packages as they do for hotels was raised. "Working together"
with referral networks is also needed.
Poor tourism road signage in country areas and authorities' inability to grasp the problems, let alone respond to complaints, is a
frequent complaint. There was also criticism of Local Tourism Bureaux in country areas and inadequate marketing of both
these areas as well as Cape Town's northern suburbs.
The good news?... crime was only mentioned once!
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