KZN tourism businesses welcome R20m relief fund
Some tourism businesses in KwaZulu-Natal are hoping to get the help they need from phase two of the tourism relief fund.
Applications for the R20 million provincial package opened on Monday.
The first phase saw around R850 000 being distributed to 29 qualifying tour guides and other businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Paul Paine of the 1000 Hills Community Tourism and Macnut Wedding Venue says there were hurdles during the first round of applications.
"Particularly so much paperwork was required and there is no support and I was quite vocal about it previously. So I am very happy they have actually relaunched it, brilliant news. People are now given another chance to get a lifeline."
Craig Drysdale from Inspirations Travel & Tours in Kloof hopes the fund will help the sector get back on its feet.
"You know 90 percent of our business coming in is all international tourism. So once the brakes were put onto closing the borders, it had a huge effect on our business.
"You can imagine, one month you had international tourists arriving, the business was going quite well and then literally a month later there's just no business whatsoever. So it's been very tough."
ALSO READ:
