Thanks to a swift response strategy, the impact of the devastating fires that have swept through the Cape Town peninsula have been minimised, the Western Cape Government has announced.
Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, said the province’s attractions and one of its most celebrated events, the Cape Town Cycle Tour, have adapted in response to the fires. He commended tourist attractions affected by the fires for taking quick action to ensure their doors were reopened. “I am pleased that the majority of our tourism establishments are open for business and operating as per normal,” said Winde.
On Thursday morning, Monkey Valley in Noordhoek opened its doors again after evacuations yesterday. The peninsula’s wine farms experienced damage to vines but managed to prevent any large-scale harm to infrastructure.
Groot Constantia was closed to the public on Wednesday as its staff had joined with fire fighters to keep the fire at bay. As a precautionary measure, the museum was evacuated and will remain closed for a short time.
The team were well prepared for fires, allowing them to mitigate major losses of vines, grapes and fynbos. Cape Point Vineyards also experienced damage to its vines and fynbos, but its restaurant is open to guests.
Both estates have indicated that they are still on track with their harvests.
One of the province’s leading tourist attractions, Cape Point, was closed on Wednesday from 14h00. The fire at the reserve has, however, been contained and this morning the World Heritage Site was running normally, with the funicular operating as scheduled.
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway was closed on Thursday because of strong winds but has not been affected by the fires and is operating as usual.
Sections of the Table Mountain National Park will remain closed to the public. Authorities will conduct extensive assessments to ensure the facilities are safe for public use.
The Cycle Tour has been shortened from its usual 109km to 47km. Ou Kaapse Weg, the detour option for Chapman’s Peak, was ruled out due to ash in the area and emergency services needing to retain immediate access in case of any flare-ups. This year’s route takes riders from the usual starting point at the Civic Centre along the M3 and back again, before finishing in Green Point.
“Tourism attractions are important contributors to our economy and jobs. This sector contributes R18 billion to our region each year and employs over 200 000 residents. I’m happy to report that many of our establishments in the areas affected by the fires have managed to avoid major damage. Our thoughts go out to the staff and management at the Tintswalo Atlantic Lodge. I wish them well as they rebuild after this tragic event,” said Winde.
