Plettenberg Bay lockdown lows: R674m tourism loss for holiday mecca
The Garden Route town of Plettenberg Bay has lost many millions in revenue thanks to the December beach ban.
Plettenberg Bay paid a heavy price during the national lockdown as visitor numbers crashed. The biggest factor was the government’s last-minute lockdown restrictions for the festive season on 14 December 2020. This resulted in many holidaymakers putting their plans on ice.
The announcement of the extended curfew, beach closures and the alcohol ban forced many South Africans who had made December holiday plans to cancel trips.
Mass cancelations resulted in crushing losses in the tourism sector for many of South Africa’s top tourist destinations. Popular Plett, a beach lover’s paradise boasting with some of the country’s finest Blue Flag beaches, was not spared.
TERS payouts: These workers can still claim after extension Feb 12, 2021, 03:53 PM
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The Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme has been extended to 15 March 2021 and claimants will be able to apply for retroactive assistance dating back to 16 October 2020.
This extension will only apply to certain sectors which have been hardest hit by lockdown restrictions, as confirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
Businesses and employees in the tourism, hospitality, and liquor industries will be able to apply for financial assistance.
But the exact conditions of the extension and application process will only be confirmed after engagements with the National Economic Development and Labour Council.
Lifting of beach ban comes too late for some - the damage is done
2 February 2021 6:53 AM
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In places like Plett where the peak season is now over, the level three lockdown coincided with the resorts busiest time of year.
There was an almost palpable sense joy and relief for many South Africans on Monday night when
President Cyril Ramaphosa announcedthe lifting of a number of lockdown restrictions, including the highly contentious beach ban.
Citing a drop in Covid-19 infections along with reduced admissions to hospitals, the President reopened beaches and parks, permitted the sale of alcohol (during certain specified hours), and relaxed curfew times.
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Plett Tourism estimates tourism has dropped by half.
By Siphokazi Mnyobe
20 Jan 2021 13:00
Sonwabo Micheal Somfele has been a sand sculptor for more than four years at Lookout Beach in Plettenberg Bay, but since the closure of the beaches and with fewer tourists around, he is struggling to make ends meet. Image: Siphokazi Mnyobe
Artists and small business owners in Plettenberg bay say they are battling to make a decent living since the beaches were closed.
Plett Tourism Association acting CEO says millions of rands were lost during the hard lockdown and the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stateâs vaccine plans could be challenged by Health Justice Initiative
By Staff Reporter
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Pretoria â The Health Justice Initiative (HJI) is threatening to go to court to get access to plans for the planned roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines in South Africa, while the DA is to complain formally that the deadline for a down payment for the Covax programme to procure and distribute a Covid-19 vaccines was missed.
This week the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) announced it would perform rolling reviews of the safety and efficacy of all vaccine candidates, and that it had received its first submission from Johnson & Johnson.