BCM DECLARES READINESS FOR INFLUX OF VISITORS TO ITS BEACHES
Buffalo Metro Municipality is expecting to welcome between 800 000 to a million visitors during this 2024/25 summer season.
This is a significant increase in the number of visitors the city attracted in the previous year primarily due to the return of stadium music shows, sporting events, blue flag-piloted beaches and a new phenomenon of Xhosa cultural mini-events (imigidi).
Buffalo City wants to assure residents and visitors that the City’s safety and security plans are already kicking in to deliver incident-free events and a safe festive season to the expected high influx of beachgoers.
The City is anticipating a busy summer season with a high hotel occupancy rate from December to January, with 80% to fully booked hotels expectations this December. This is expected to spill over to other accommodation establishments like BnBs, AirBnb, townships.
In terms of national and domestic tourists, a huge percentage of visitors are expected to be “returning home” visitors who are plying trade in major Cities as well as domestic visitors from across the Eastern Cape and other provinces.
Tourism is a key economic sector for Buffalo City, with tourism spending accounting for 5.35% of the city's GDP. The City's total tourism spending ranges annually around R3.94 billion, and the tourism sector employs around 9,700 people.
East London is a popular holiday destination in South Africa. It's known for its beaches and many attractions, including nature reserves, museums, recreational sites and other places of interest.
The Metro started the festive season with a major bang with a music concert that featured Xmas lights and the decorative lights will continue brightening our City streets and beachfront throughout this summer.
The Xmas lights will brighten the City up until the 11th of January with the Xmas lights park operating from Monday to Saturday (weather permitting) excluding 24, 25, 26, 31st December and 1st operating kiddies rides from18h00 – 22h00 (depending on the length of the queue).
This is not only a tourist attraction drawing people from all over the country but it is a sensation that sets the mood for locals more so in this period where many are unable to afford leaving the city due to tough economic conditions but still want to give their families a memorable experience. Hence some of the rides like trains are offered at no cost.
The Metro is also delighted that from our 10 beaches on our coastline, two of them (Gonubie and Kidds Beach) are operating under the blue flag pilot status including the disability friendly Gonubie beach and together with swimming pools in areas like Zwelitsha, eQonce, Parkside and East London. The blue flag status will add leisure experiences be it boat cruise, swimming, surfing or picnics.
The City is part of the SAPS Joint Operations Centre (JOC) led by the South African Police Service which includes Disaster Management, Law Enforcement, Traffic, Fire, Police Lifesaving, Ambulance services and NSRI.
Safety and security officers will be deployed on foot, horses, cars with helicopter patrols as well as CCTV cameras looking over strategic points including the CBD area.
A total of 43 lifeguards will be operational during the 2024 summer season with 25 being seasonal and 18 full time. Marshalls have also been employed to assist with crowd control around popular beaches.
The 10 beaches will be guarded by lifeguards being Gonubie Main Beach, Bonza Bay Main Beach and Picnic site; Bonza Bay to Nahoon River Mouth; Nahoon Main Beach through Nahoon Corner to Nahoon Reef; Leaches Bay to Hickman’s River Mouth and Beach; Kidd’s Beach Main Beach; Igoda Beach; Kiwane Beach and Kaiser’s Main Beach.
The Metro, together with partners from the private sector, is part of a call-2-action cleanup operations and waste management awareness drives which targets key strategic areas, streets and pavements.
In terms of beach safety, the Metro is experiencing challenges in terms of negligence as there are children who are left unattended whilst parents focus on partying and children go to congested areas and get lost. That is why BCM will be working jointly with Social Development, SAPS and our Law Enforcement Officers.
As we enter the peak of the summer season, the Metro is urging beachgoers to stay within the designated swimming zones where lifeguards are on duty and to avoid swimming after hours or while intoxicated.
Additionally, the metro is encouraging visitors to respect the ocean and parents to keep an eye on their children at the beach at all times.
Pictures supplied: Andre Oosthuizen
2024-12-17