The Kwam e-Makana township homestay project is living up to expectations, says the director of Makana Tourism Willem Makkink.
The Kwam e-Makana township homestay project is living up to expectations, says the director of Makana Tourism Willem Makkink.
"All 360 beds were full during the opening weekend of the Festival, with occupancy at about 75% during the weekdays. The numbers are the same as last year. The economic recession hasn’t impacted the bed and breakfasts at all," said Makkink. He also said full occupancy is expected again for the last weekend of Festival.
The Kwam e-Makana project was started in 2004 by former Eastern Cape Premier, Nosimo Balindlela in an effort to involve the township in the Festival and create employment. Currently there are 48 homestays which can be easily spotted by the distinctive red Kwam e-Makana signs outside the houses.
"I am very happy and I always get guests," said Lulu Kopo, owner of Kwa-Lulu Homestay in Tantyi. Margaret Khuhlane from Joza, said her business is running smoothly and that the visitors’ book is evidence of that. Evelyn Sityanda, also of Joza, said that although she has had five guests already, she would have liked to have been fully booked every day of the Festival.
According to Makkink, government-sponsored artists, who all stay at Kwam homestays, have been less than last year but the number of festinos has been the same. Banathi Ngeva, a government-sponsored artist reciting Xhosa poetry at Wordfest, has been staying at Kwa-Molly Homestay in Joza and said that he was happy with his accomodation.
Simphiwe Mfengwana, also a government-sposored artist, said he enjoyed staying at the Kwam homestays and that he "felt at home".Bookings are done through Makana Tourism and Makkink says there have not been many hiccups, other than complaints from guests who have been booked in as a group and then expected to share beds to make room for walk-ins.
Makkink added that this is not allowed by the Tourism Board as it is unethical because hosts have been found to have accomodated up to six people in one room. Guests who booked before price increases paid R175 per person, which could not be changed to accomodate the current price of R200 per person.
Makana Tourism gets a commission of 10%, which although Makkink admits has been a "bone of contention", is necessary to cover costs such as telephone calls and bank charges which he says are corperate expenses.
