Tourism authorities in the scenic town of Franschhoek are worried that the drought could hamper their thriving operations. The town, which is nestled between mountains in the Cape winelands, is regarded as the food and wine capital of the region. At present, not even the water shortage has led to a decrease in visitor numbers. Franschhoek’s tourism sector growth has largely been driven by events and its renowned wine farms that attract domestic and international wine enthusiasts. "The drought could have an impact just as it would affect other sectors," said Reinher Behrens, the recently appointed CEO of the Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism Authority. "We are in the same boat as everybody else in the Western Cape … all the establishments are aware of the water restrictions … whether we have seen a decline in tourist numbers? The answer is no," he said. However, there are fears that if the drought persists, tourists could avoid visiting the region. Behrens said events and wine tourism ...
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