Although South Africa now has plenty of five-, four- and three-star hotels Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are “crying out for one- and two-star hotels of the kind that used to be found everywhere”, according to Joop Demes, the head of the hospitality division of Pam Golding Properties.
Demes said this week the new tourism markets opened up by hosting the World Cup in June and July meant many of the visitors wanted clean and pleasant accommodation costing about R350 a night, and with a South African character distinguishing them from the anonymous budget hotels found in Europe.
“We need accommodation like the old Royal Hotels that were found all over South Africa, where families travelling round the country used to stop,” he said.
Until recently, many people in the hospitality industry expected a disappointing summer, with the hope for a rise in tourism from overseas starting only late next year.
But flights from overseas are already arriving with heavy passenger loads although the tourism season normally starts only at the end of this month, with British Airways in particular reporting that its 15 flights a week to Johannesburg and 13 flights a week to Cape Town are more than 90 percent full.
Restaurants also expect an average or above-average summer season, but due to the high number of walk-in customers with no reservations the figures of the restaurants cannot yet be analysed. - Audrey D’Angelo