NMBT releases Summer Season figures

NELSON Mandela Bay Tourism (NMBT) is counting the impact of the city’s Summer Season – and for the first time in years the organisation is able to compare its statistics, a system that is a legacy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In 2010 NMBT changed its system from recording room occupancies to documenting bed nights, a more accurate means of determining economic impact. The result is more accurate statistics and a better understanding of the impact of seasonal ebb and flows on the local tourism industry.

“In June this year we will have been capturing this information for two consecutive years which means we can then start comparing year on year as well as by month on month, as we are doing currently,” said NMBT marketing manager, Titus Chuene. “We initially started doing this because there was a lack of local data and we wanted to capture the local economic impact of the World Cup, but the outcomes is credible and useful data we can use to effectively market the city.” 

The statistics show that in December bed night occupancy was up by 5,24% in comparison with December 2010, with the city recording an average of 67.5% bed night occupancy. The 410 accommodation facilities in Nelson Mandela Bay recorded a turnover of R105-million – a R10-million increase since December 2010.

“These figures indicate that, despite some doomsayers in the industry lamenting the impact of the global recession, the domestic market was still holidaying during December,” said Chuene.

“From our stats the foreign market seems to have declined a little but domestic has increased. Admittedly, there is still a big gap between what we can supply and the demand.

“Therefore NMBT is dedicated to lobbying and bidding for the hosting of big events and conferences – a way to increase occupancy levels, clearly indicated by the impact of IRB Sevens World Series and other major sports and conference meetings this December.”

Chuene added that tourism was the second biggest economic driver in the Eastern Cape and a focus on building momentum across the various tourism markets was critical to ensuring the potential in the local industry was unlocked. “The province has also got so much potential – I think it has to focus on developing its attractions to its full potential which could dramatically increase its tourism market share.”

For that matter, local tourism icon, the McArthur Pool and Leisure Complex recorded a bumper season over December 2011 and January 2012, overcoming challenges at cusp of its seasonal opening.

On New Year’s Day the centre tallied R36 000 and over the entire season (December and January) it generated R498 315. “We also hosted 10 526 adults and 11 637 children over the December/ January period,” said Leon Botha, McArthur Pool and Leisure Centre manager. “This shows just how popular the pools were over the IRB Sevens, which played a big role, the festive season and beyond.”

Erich Oberhauser, general manager of the Road Lodge Port Elizabeth Airport, also endorsed the summer season figures, which marked an upswing in tourism. “I can confirm that December 2011 was the best month in occupancy, as well as revenue, since the opening of the hotel including World Cup 2010… thanks to efforts made by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism to attract and successfully host several events in the Bay that definitely had a huge spin off for the industry during November and December 2011,” he said.

Chuene added that the Summer Season and McArthur Bath’s figures were an indication, on some levels, of a swing-around for the local industry.