• Pages

  • Special Places to Stay
  • - South Africa
  • - France
  • Special Places to Eat
  • - South Africa
  • - France

• Property Rentals

  • France
  • South Africa
  • - Knysna

• Recent Articles

  • Simply (Snowy) Provence
  • A Week in Provence Winter ‘12 [5]
  • Madame’s Magic Moments
  • The ‘Paris’ has gone up a Notch
  • Madame’s Magic Moments
  • Madame’s Magic Moments
  • La Neige! Snow in the Luberon
  • Footsteps - Essential Luberon Valley Guide
  • Madame’s Magic Moments
  • Madame’s Magic Moments

• Archives

  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008

• Search

   

  

The heritage-rich seaside resort of Arniston is in trouble. Big trouble.

The village made famous with its national monument listed collection of fishing cottages, the endangered Galjoen fish, a wonderful Hotel and Spa and many seaside cottages, is beset with a major crime and social problem.

They don’t tell you this in the ads, but when you arrive, the locals tell you not to leave windows open at night, take valuables from one room to another when you are in the house, put the alarms on at all times and generally terrify the wits out of you.

[A quiet place on the sand dunes]

[Even here close to the Waenhuiskrans cave you have to careful, they say]

Dwindling fishing quotas, abject poverty, low morale amongst the locals contrasts with the affluence of the 4-star Hotel and Spa and the hundreds of mainly empty holiday homes which reflects a wider than wide gap between the haves and the have-nots.

It appears on the surface that this anger has boiled over - to the extent that we were given anecdotal evidence of house cleaners breaking household possessions on purpose.

What is happening with the local authorities? Where are the social upliftment projects?

[On the posh side of town - a quirky Abba-esque piece of driftwood]

[Peace and tranquility near to the cave]

[A national monument - immaculately restored old fishing cottage. to-day, unfortunately it has been alarmed and ADT-ed to every inch of its life.]

[A picture postcard view from the sand dunes to the village]

[Honeymoon heaven. The Arniston Hotel and Spa. Superb cuisine, service and ambience]

[Another national monument. The heritage fishing settlement. Under this veneer lies a fermenting rebellion]

An anchor usually symbolises stability and security. The authorities need to do something fast or else not only will this tourist paradise collapse in a heap but the locals will slide even further into the depths of poverty.

We can’t let this happen. A tourist levy, perhaps? Maybe, just some honesty, perhaps? Imagine what one less Mercedes Benz belonging to a Cabinet Minister would do here!

Comments

• Blog Roll

  • 2 Oceans Vibe - what the kids are reading!
  • Crikey - what they don’t publish in Oz
  • Dan Retief - The one rugby journalist you can rely on to talk sense - Dan knows the game!
  • Getaway Guru - Great travel site with many hints and tips
  • Noseweek - news you’re not supposed to know
  • Popyacollar - A leading edge look at fashions and trends
  • Provence Villa Rental - the ultimate property rental in France
  • Thought Leadership Strategy - Craig Badings - Craig is one of Australia’s leading PR practitioners. His views on Thought Leadership and Strategy are always worth reading
  • Wrestling Possums - The doyen of PR, Chris Savage, gives this site his unique brand of incisiveness. A must read if you’re interested in communications.

• Other Links