Visitors flock to the coast
• Fun starts early for some
Misty Bay Café in Henties Bay began to experience the December spirit in full swing on Monday as residents and tourists kick off their festive season.
Visitors already started flocking to the coast at the beginning of the month.
This according to Anett Kötting, Erongo Region chairperson of the Hospitality Association of Namibia, who said: “Usually, our season starts on the 22nd of December until the 27th, but this year, we were already busy from the fifth”.
According to her, several sporting events have attracted visitors to the seaside.
"The Desert Dash usually brings Namibian families to the coast. With other sporting events such as Fittest in the Namib, we see more tourists from our SADC neighbours - especially from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe," she said.
According to Ivaan Basson, a manager at De Duine Hotel in Henties Bay, the coastal town is swarming with visitors and even more people are expected next week.
"There are definitely a lot of people, and from next week we are fully booked because of the [touch rugby tournament] being held here.
"Our restaurant is doing very well and our rooms are mainly occupied by South Africans," he said.
SA takes Swakop
Hesti Langeveldt, manager of the Platz Am Meer shopping centre in Swakopmund, said she has also noticed an influx of South African visitors.
"I recently received my change in South African notes at a clothes shop and thought there must be a lot of South Africans in Swakopmund right now," she said.
However, according to her, the shopping centre is not as busy as previous years.
"We've been busy, but it feels like there are fewer visitors this year. It felt to me like the turnout at the Dash was also a little smaller this year, but I haven't looked at the numbers yet," she said.
Rhyno du Preez, the owner of Swakopmund's Spar, echoed her sentiments.
"The people are not here in droves yet. The flow is there, but it is not the catch that was predicted.”
However, Langeveldt said the number of visitors to Swakopmund has increased tremendously over the past weekend.
Henties still warming up
Owner of Leon's Tackle Shop Leon Krause said Swakopmund currently enjoys more traffic than Henties Bay.
"I think there are a bit less people this year. It seems to me that Swakopmund is a bit busier than Henties Bay when I look at the business at my shops.”
Jana Kruger from Anglers Kiosk in Walvis Bay said Henties Bay's holiday season will only come to an end towards mid-January.
"We definitely expect more people until after the first week in January. Many of the estate agents are fully booked until about 10 January.”
Meanwhile, Misty Bay Café in Henties Bay began to experience the December spirit in full swing on Monday.
On visitors from our southern neighbour, owner Jaco Serfontein said: “There are definitely some South African visitors here, but they are not as plentiful as usual”.
This according to Anett Kötting, Erongo Region chairperson of the Hospitality Association of Namibia, who said: “Usually, our season starts on the 22nd of December until the 27th, but this year, we were already busy from the fifth”.
According to her, several sporting events have attracted visitors to the seaside.
"The Desert Dash usually brings Namibian families to the coast. With other sporting events such as Fittest in the Namib, we see more tourists from our SADC neighbours - especially from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe," she said.
According to Ivaan Basson, a manager at De Duine Hotel in Henties Bay, the coastal town is swarming with visitors and even more people are expected next week.
"There are definitely a lot of people, and from next week we are fully booked because of the [touch rugby tournament] being held here.
"Our restaurant is doing very well and our rooms are mainly occupied by South Africans," he said.
SA takes Swakop
Hesti Langeveldt, manager of the Platz Am Meer shopping centre in Swakopmund, said she has also noticed an influx of South African visitors.
"I recently received my change in South African notes at a clothes shop and thought there must be a lot of South Africans in Swakopmund right now," she said.
However, according to her, the shopping centre is not as busy as previous years.
"We've been busy, but it feels like there are fewer visitors this year. It felt to me like the turnout at the Dash was also a little smaller this year, but I haven't looked at the numbers yet," she said.
Rhyno du Preez, the owner of Swakopmund's Spar, echoed her sentiments.
"The people are not here in droves yet. The flow is there, but it is not the catch that was predicted.”
However, Langeveldt said the number of visitors to Swakopmund has increased tremendously over the past weekend.
Henties still warming up
Owner of Leon's Tackle Shop Leon Krause said Swakopmund currently enjoys more traffic than Henties Bay.
"I think there are a bit less people this year. It seems to me that Swakopmund is a bit busier than Henties Bay when I look at the business at my shops.”
Jana Kruger from Anglers Kiosk in Walvis Bay said Henties Bay's holiday season will only come to an end towards mid-January.
"We definitely expect more people until after the first week in January. Many of the estate agents are fully booked until about 10 January.”
Meanwhile, Misty Bay Café in Henties Bay began to experience the December spirit in full swing on Monday.
On visitors from our southern neighbour, owner Jaco Serfontein said: “There are definitely some South African visitors here, but they are not as plentiful as usual”.
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