While the air space over the UK and parts of Europe is starting to open up following the volcanic ash disruption to global air travel, Capetonians have shown remarkable hospitality to stranded passengers.
In a press release for Cape Town Tourism, Mariette du Toit Helmbold said of the situation:
“The worldwide disruption of travel due to grounded flights in European centres threatened by the volcanic ash fallout has definitely had a ripple effect on Cape Town’s tourism sector. There is a lot of uncertainty and frustration but there is also an opportunity to show extraordinary hospitality by extending a helping hand to those visitors that are stranded. Many people have not budgeted for an extended stay and we are asking hotels and tourism establishments to post their most generous rates for those stuck in limbo.”
In the same press release, a phone poll of City hotels conducted by Cape Town Tourism on 19 April 2010 revelealed that many accommodation establishments were offering discounts to stranded visitors and that some were refunding bookings that could not be honoured as a result of the disruption.
Beyond the hospitality industry, local residents in large numbers have offered accommodation in their own homes to stranded passengers so that they would not have to sleep at the airport. Local radio stations and Cape Town Tourism offices have been inundated with calls from generous Capetonians eager to help out.
Having called Cape Town Tourism this morning myself, to find out how many stranded passengers have needed to take up these generous offers, I was informed that there have been no passengers forced to sleep at the airport so far due to the operations at the airport, whereby international flights leave at night. This means passengers have been able to find out by one p.m each day whether or not they will be able to fly that night and in all cases it seems they have managed to extend their existing accommodation arrangements or stay on with family or friends.
Should the need arise for anyone affected by the situation, they will be put in touch with locals offering assistance.
We think that the spirit of the Cape Town accommodation establishments and the public shows Cape Town is a wonderful light - from the lady who offered three bedrooms, each with en suite, to the one gentleman who called to offer a mattress on his floor 'for up to six months' - everyone has been willing to help visitors to our city and that says a lot about the people who live here!
