An update on the recent months under lockdown
We will soon be entering our 4th month of national lockdown restrictions and our hearts go out to the entire community of Plettenberg Bay as we tally-up the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of those who have lost loved ones due to this terrible virus. It cannot be overstated how unprecedented this time is for the global community.
The tourism industry has ground to a halt, for our clients, for our company, and for each of us. Let’s hope that this period in time will be a defining experience for our era, and one that we can overcome.
The tourism industry has experienced what we believe is the greatest reduction in business that we may see in our lifetimes. We watched with grave concern as the world shut their borders, grounded their airlines, and urged people to stay at home.
Over the course of the past four months, Plett Tourism has taken on somewhat of a slightly different role. Through our work with the COVID-19 Response Team and the Bitou Municipality, we have assisted with the opening and supply management chain for 63 soup kitchens in the Bitou area.
The following organization has played such a vital role in making Plett even greater than it was, caring for our communities in need by feeding up to 10,000 people per day via 63 soup kitchens. A big thank you to Plett Tourism, Plett Aid Foundation, The Click Foundations, Sabrina Love Foundation and The Solidarity Fund.
Plett was the first town in South Africa to introduce free hand sanitizer which was placed all around Plett in 5000l tanks, the placement of these tanks is in vulnerable areas, we can confirm that 9 of these tanks are now currently active in the areas.
On the tourism front, CapeNature’s consulting and key decision-making process allowed for the reopening of Robberg Nature Reserve – one of Plett’s most recognizable landmarks.
We also participated in the first, live-streamed penguin release with Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and Nature’s Valley Trust. The four rehabilitated penguins were a wonderful sight to see as they made their way along our beautiful shoreline, back into the wild.
Against the odds of the pandemic and lockdown, the team has worked hard to put together the 6th Plett ARTS Festival. Focused on ‘La vida local’, the first virtual event for Plett Tourism received funding from Wesgro, which has kept our area musicians, artists, actors and enthusiasts in the hearts and minds of Plettonians and lovers of Plett.
We are starting to see a rebuild of businesses and industries. It is tempting and very human, to yearn to return to business as usual and as quickly as possible. But that return to normal is not and will not be realistic.
As we start the journey of reopening tourism, Plett Tourism has been investigating innovative services to put Plett ahead of the pack. The team has been hard at work conducting crucial industry research so that we will be able to introduce the official protocols, products, and programmes needed to reopen our products. This includes a product partnership with Wellness Safe to offer a turnkey solution to adopt COVID-19 legislation in your business.
Tourism initiatives are picking up, and we are currently preparing for the AGM which is scheduled for Wednesday, 26th of August 2020. We will also be releasing the plans for our domestic travel campaign, which will start in early 2021 and will include our SA Residents Discount and a Kids 12 and under stay FREE campaigns. Stay tuned and watch your emails with further details and instructions to follow.
During the past week we met up with the GM of Beacon Island, Reinhard Visser, who shared some exciting news with us on the newly renovated Beacon Island Resort, an amount in the excess of R60 million has been spent over the course of 18 months, including recent renovations that will put the resort on the global map.
We continue to work with the Bitou Municipality, the Plett Business Chamber and other business leaders to keep the community safe and to respond to the needs of our residents. Our faith and working together will continue to provide us with the tools we need to stay ahead during difficult times.
Thank you and be well.
In the love of Plett,
Marius Venter
CEO Plett Tourism
Source: Plett Tourism