Knysna's Tourism Thrives During Busy December Season

During the recent December 2024/January 2025 holiday period, Knysna experienced a significant influx of tourists, reaching accommodation capacities akin to "pre-COVID" levels. Municipal Manager, Mr. Lulamile Mapholoba, confirmed the accommodation statistics from the Nightsbridge booking platform, which highlighted a total of 6300 arrivals in December, making Knysna the most visited destination along the picturesque Garden Route.

The Garden Route's allure is undeniably significant during the peak season, and in addition, this time around, Knysna witnessed a notable change in visitor profiles. Traditionally dominated by domestic tourists during the end-year holidays, this season saw a near-even split between local and international visitors, illustrating a shift in Knysna's tourist demographic and potentially reshaping future marketing strategies for the region.

Jan van der Westhuizen, chairperson of the Greater Knysna Business Chamber, highlighted another noticeable trend: changes in the timing and duration of the tourism peak. The rush of visitors peaked close to Christmas, approximately between December 20 and 23, but unlike previous years, saw an earlier slowdown, beginning just after New Year. Such insights are crucial for business planning in the hospitality sector, catering to changing visitor patterns for better service delivery.

Besides, last-minute bookings soared as visitors either opted for spontaneous trips or awaited favorable deals. Business establishments also observed varied spending behaviors where some tourists indulged in luxury dining and paid attractions, while others preferred budget-conscious activities, embracing Knysna’s enchanting natural surroundings for relaxation.

Despite a brief interference in tourist influx due to local roadworks affecting traffic, the local economy benefited significantly from the heightened activity. Mapholoba expressed gratitude for the robust tourist turnout and anticipated the upcoming popular events scheduled in Knysna. These range from the Chukka Schools Festival in late February, the Garden Route Festival of Books in early March, the exhilarating Knysna Speed Festival, and the Simola Hillclimb in May, to the renowned Knysna Oyster Festival in July.

This promising influx and the successful hosting of such events not only reinforce Knysna’s status as a premier tourism hotspot but also augur well for continuous economic growth in the region propelled by tourism.