Eskom’s ”poor communication” during the current electricity crisis is of major concern to the tourism industry, the City of Cape Town said on Friday.
Simon Grindrod, the city’s mayoral committee member for economic development and tourism, said the tourism industry found it difficult to cope with the current power cuts because Eskom was not providing it with accurate information.
”Eskom’s failure to provide accurate information timeously is impacting negatively on the tourism industry,” he said.
Grindrod, who was speaking at a media briefing in Cape Town following a meeting between the city and representatives of the tourism industry, said the industry wanted to be part of the solution but Eskom was making things difficult for it.
They wanted to find ”positive and practical ways to deal with the current situation”, he said.
The city had agreed to assist the industry to cope with the current situation.
”We have undertaken to provide written material which stakeholders can use that explains to the visitor what the situation is and what is being done to deal with it,” he said.
The city would also provide industry players with accurate contact details that they could use to enquire about electricity-related matters.
Grindrod said industry representatives had agreed to respond to the current crisis in a responsible and patriotic manner.
”In everything we do as a sector we will push forward a positive image,” he said.
While the tourism industry had not informed him of any major financial losses as a result of current power cuts, plans to expand the industry would definitely be ”reviewed”. — Sapa