Sanral has announced that it is planning to go ahead with the introduction of traditional toll gates on the N1 and N2 highways, which form part of its N1/N2 Winelands Tolls Highway Project, leading into and out of Cape Town. There seem to be mixed views on what, if any, impact the proposed toll gates will have.
Annareth Bolton, ceo of Stellenbosch Wine Routes, says: “We are concerned about the economic impact of increased travelling costs and getting stock to the businesses. The cost of day trips and travel packages will also increase, which is always a concern.” Stellenbosch Wine Routes represents 152 wine farms open to the public for wine tasting, many of them featuring restaurants, accommodation, activities and events.
She says the wine tourism industry is working extremely hard at promoting the destination locally and internationally, and that the proposed tolls are a major obstacle. “We should be making it easier for visitors to explore our country, not harder.”
According to Enver Duminy, ceo of Cape Town Tourism, any increase in an already pressured business environment will have an impact on visitors and citizens. “Toll roads add a bigger burden to tourism directly and indirectly. It will most certainly have an effect on service delivery and the price of goods in-destination due to increased cost to transport within the supply chain.”
Enver adds that the use of alternative routes to toll roads would also mean that some tourism businesses may be bypassed. “Lower volumes of travel through some areas will definitely impact on tourism jobs and it is important to note that tourism is a vital employer in many rural areas.”
However, Danny Bryer, director of sales, marketing and revenue for the Protea Hospitality Group, believes if further tolling in the province goes ahead, it is unlikely to have an impact on the tourism industry. “The effect would be on the residents. Tolling is never popular but it’s standard across the world in other high tourism regions,” he explains.
According to Danny, tourists will not cancel a Winelands tour on the basis of having to traverse a toll gate or having to pay R10 or even R20 more for an organised tour. “If they do happen to find them that offensive, then there are the Constantia and Durbanville wine routes on the city side of where the proposed toll booths would be, as well as numerous secondary roads out to towns like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.”
Danny says volumes on the roads would be more of a concern “especially along the N2 stretch around Sir Lowry’s Pass where traffic can back up for kilometres over peak periods without the added effects of stopping at a toll gate”. He says while they may be tiresome, he doubts whether they will have a negative effect on travel to the region.
The proposed N1/N2 project envisages the introduction of traditional toll booths on about 180km of provincial roads. The Democratic Alliance has reiterated that it will continue to strongly oppose the introduction of tolls. Last year the Western Cape High Court granted an interim interdict putting the project on hold.
