Whales bring R600m to Hermanus economy

THE Western Cape town of Hermanus - about an hour's drive from Cape Town - is drawing increasing numbers of international tourists to its annual Whale Festival, held this year from September 27 to October 6. Conditions are ideal for land-based whale-watching and up to 80 000 visitors flocked to the town during this period, boosting the local economy by about R600m, according to Joanne Kunz from the Hermanus Tourism office. She says the tourism office alone handled some R350 000 worth of accommodation bookings over that period. International visitors arrived from as far afield as Spain, the Ukraine, Iran, Kuwait, Germany and Russia. Up to 380 whales were spotted in the bay during September, including about 40 calves. (Adéle Mackenzie)