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After what has been a difficult year for all of us, what with power outages at the beginning of the year, higher interest rates and of late the ripple effect of the global financial crisis filtering through, we have perhaps been fortunate that the current ‘credit crunch’ has not had the same impact here as it has in the rest of the World due to the more recent introduction of tighter financial controls in South Africa. If nothing else we are fortunate to live in one of the World’s most beautiful regions which presents us with tremendous opportunities to temporarily escape the current recessionary trends.

Quote of the Week – ‘How spot on was Mr Jefferson’.
'I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.'
Thomas Jefferson 1802

The light at the end of the tunnel may still be out of sight but at least we can enter into the New Year with recharged batteries and new positivity, adapting our businesses where possible to the current state of affairs. At least it appears that the Garden Route will have a good season as certainly accommodation figures received from key local tourism offices show that bookings are on a par with the same time last year, although the one point of concern is that many people booked before the recessionary trends really took hold so this may still change.

In GRI 24 (Dec 2008 to Feb 2009) Dr.Ernst van Biljon gives advice on ‘Investing in Eden’ now (P.1/ P.24); Professor Francois Hanekom (all of us wishing Francois a speedy recovery) takes a look at the Garden Route in terms of ‘A Name, a Rainfall Reality and a Blue Flag’ (P.25) and Professor Thomas gives an overview of Corporate Involvement at Eden’s “Bottom of the Pyramid” (P.26). Lisa Greyling presents an in-depth guide of what to do in the Garden Route this festive season and our intrepid motoring guru, David Wilms, looks at the ‘Morning After’ when purchasing a vehicle in the current economy.

I’d like to thank all our advertisers for their ongoing and much appreciated support and above all wish all our readers a very Happy Xmas and a highly successful 2009.

NB. Early in 2009 GRI will be launching a monthly Newsletter (details on P.2 of the newspaper). Should you have any comments or contributions regarding the Garden Route, on any subject matter which you feel relevant, then please forward these to : paul@gri.co.za