The once-bustling weekend tourist town of Greyton has become a ghost town. Guesthouses stand empty. Restaurants are closed. The Overberg village that largely depends on tourism for its survival, has come to an eerie standstill.
Long weekends on the South African calendar, and especially Easter weekend, are traditionally so-called, “bumper weekends” financially for many Greyton business owners. Easter weekend brings a period of frivolous spending before the doldrums of winter set in. But the recent lockdown has dried up the flow of visitors into the village, having a devastating effect on a number of local businesses.
“The tourism life of the village is on hold,” said John McGlashan, vice-chairperson of the Greyton Tourism Association (GTA). “There are no visitors…Everywhere is empty. Only the locals are around.”
On the morning of Thursday 9 April, Greyton’s Main Road was quiet. PHOTO: Victoria O’Regan
The nation-wide lockdown came into effect at midnight, on Thursday 26 March.
The pandemic and lockdown came about quickly, said McGlashan, but the GTA was as prepared as it could be.
“There was very little that we could do. We rang all people [who] booked via the office and tried to cancel or postpone,” said McGlashan. “Why would anyone want to come to Greyton when all the bars, restaurants and facilities are closed and where you can’t go walking or bike-riding?”
An empty village
Considered as the last weekend of good trading before the end of summer; Easter has often provided some financial comfort throughout the winter months.
“At Easter we are generally full. It is difficult to get accommodation in the village during a busy weekend like Easter. Easter was very full last year. I noticed it especially by being unable to park,” said McGlashan.
This year, as many South Africans know by now, the entire country was under lockdown over the Easter period, as the government attempts to contain the spread of Covid-19.
According to McGlashan, tourism is essential to Greyton. “In the village of Greyton, tourism is the biggest employer and driver of the economy. It is said that for every eight visitors that represents one job,” said McGlashan. “We have nine or ten restaurants – all making a living largely out of tourists, especially at weekends.”
Now, the restaurants are closed.
Greyton is able to house approximately 500 visitors and AirBnB has roughly 90 properties available, said McGlashan. But, at the moment all its hotels and guesthouses are closed.
One of the guesthouses in Greyton which closed on 25 March, was Ella’s Accommodation. Owner Lisa Mulligan said she saw a rise in booking cancellations in the weeks leading up to the lockdown.
“We have had cancellations before our lockdown from foreigners who were worried they would not be able to return, [and also] from local people before the lockdown,” said Mulligan.
According to Mulligan, her guesthouse is usually fully-booked over the Easter weekend. The impact of the lockdown over this period is “devastating”, she said.
“We have had no new bookings as people are uncertain when it will be over, so they aren’t booking,” said Mulligan.
Restaurants have been forced to close during the lockdown – losing out on prime business over the Easter period. PHOTO: Victoria O’Regan
Cally Williams, the owner of a local retail store, Willow and Bailey, said that the lockdown has put her in “a very scary and worrying situation”.
“Easter weekend was always very good to us. And, given that it was the last sort of real trading before winter arrives, [the lockdown] is going to impact incredibly heavily on the months ahead.”
According to Williams, the Covid-19 virus will have a very prolonged effect on tourism.
“Everybody’s pocket has been severely hit by this virus….The state of the economy is going to be incredibly bleak and no one is going to be rushing in to buy a card or a silk scarf. Simply because they cannot afford to do so,” said Williams.
A belt-tightening time
It is too soon to know the total impact the nationwide lockdown will have on these local businesses that depend on tourism for income.
But for now, Greyton business owners are preparing for the upcoming months filled with uncertainty and duress.
“There is also just that air of negativity really,” said Williams. “It is going to be a belt-tightening time going forward, because we don’t have that extra little back-up from Easter that we could store away in the back draw, to draw on for the very cold, wet, lean months that winter has always presented.”