Garden Route tourism in crisis after beach closures, accommodation cancellations
By Marvin Charles
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Cape Town – Coastal towns identified as Covid-19 hotspots along the Garden Route and in the Eastern Cape are reeling as tourists cancel holiday bookings after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the closure of popular beaches.
Plett Tourism acting chief executive Patty Butterworth said: “The negative impact of the Garden Route beach closure announcement has already started. Accommodation cancellations have been confirmed and more cancellations will undoubtedly follow, causing further damage to our local economy.
“We are in a complete state of shock. The news makes no sense. Closing the beaches will play absolutely no role whatsoever in curbing the spread of Covid-19 in the Garden Route in that there is no evidence of the spread of the virus on our beaches.
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