Recession didn’t ruin holidays: Swakop NCCI

SWAKOPMUND businesses providing basic commodities, such as accommodation, food and beverages, did well during the relatively short festive season, while people were more cautious spending their money on luxuries, leisure and gifts.

According to NCCI Swakopmund Chairperson Pam Muller, the official holiday season for 2009 was short compared to previous years, providing people with only two weeks of rest – and spending.’The previous year we had three weeks, and in the old days we had between four and five weeks,’ she said.Nevertheless, accommodation establishments, restaurants and bottle stores still did well.’People still spent there money at these places, and there are no indications that they did worse than previous years, regardless of difficult financial times,’ Muller told The Namibian.An interesting aspect of the holiday, according to her, was the fact that, unlike previous years, there wasn’t a steady increase in customers, but rather a sudden boom in business from one day to the next.’There was a defined period in which people all of a sudden came to have their holiday and spend, and now it’s much quieter again,’ Muller said.According to her, following the start of the global economic crisis last year, holidaymakers were more cautious in spending their money, and would rather invest in the essentials.’People are more aware of the economic situation, and are therefore more cautious, although they are still not prepared to give up their holiday,’ she said. ‘There’s been a change in behaviour when it comes to spending.’The Namib I tourism information centre’s Almuth Styles agreed that holidaymakers were more cautious about spending their money on leisure, although the accommodation establishments were booked to the brim.’Swakopmund is still the place to be for the holidays. That aspect has not changed, and for the short period, business looked well, although people turn their dollar around more, taking it easy with leisure activities,’ she said.Swakopmund CEO Eckart Demasius said the town is still buzzing although the town centre isn’t the only attraction any more, as several businesses have set up shop in other parts of the town.’Town is still the social spot where people want to see and be seen, but otherwise supermarkets, fuel stations and other businesses in our suburbs were busier, and taking the load from the town centre,’ he said. ‘There definitely were not fewer people than previous years – just more dispersed.’