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KZN boasts positive tourism stats MARYANNE ISAAC
DESPITE challenges and deterring factors impacting on KwaZulu-Natal’s readiness to welcome foreign and domestic tourists during the recent festive season, the province was still a popular domestic leisure tourist destination. This is according to KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) Siboniso Duma, who released the preliminary tourism statistics for the 2022 festive season. “We are pleased with the festive season figures as they reflect the province’s tourism performance over one month of our summer season – note that the province’s summer season draws to a close at the end of March 2023. Therefore, I have no doubt that we will achieve our target.” In early December, Edtea projected an estimated 760 000 domestic trips and 58 000 international visitors over the entire summer season. In December, KZN welcomed 520 000 domestic tourists and 51 000 international tourists, providing a R2.4 billion injection into the provincial economy (provincial GDP). “We have no doubt that our efforts to revive the tourism sector will yield a positive outcome. The role of the tourism sector in the economic transformation of our country and our province is immeasurable. Hotel and other accommodation occupancy rates are a good indicator of how well tourism is doing,” added Duma. At the beginning of December, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal research estimated average hotel occupancy rates for KZN would reach 60% during Christmas and the New Year. Preliminary actual weekly occupancies for hotel occupancy showed from December 19 to 25, KZN’s average hotel occupancy rate was 57% – 3% lower than the projections. However, from December 26 to January 1, the situation improved with the average occupancy rate reaching 81%.
roadworks. The cost of buying and running generators has been astronomical and has had a serious economic impact.” Meanwhile, the 2022 festive season was a great one for the KZN South Coast. With several tourism engagements and attractions opened to the public, the tourism entity in the region said it had received positive feedback from establishments. “As a popular seaside holiday destination, we were fortunate that our beaches remained safe and open for bathing for the duration of the season, with the exception of Scottburgh Beach which had to be temporarily closed following heavy rains. “Shortly before the start of the festive season, it was also announced that we had retained Blue Flag status at six of our beaches, and another five attaining pilot status, underscoring the commitment to health and safety,” said Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of South Coast Tourism. On the other hand, eThekwini faced criticism and the ire of locals over the handling of the closure of several beaches due to high E coli levels found in the water as a result of sewage spills. The number of tourists who visited Durban during the past festive season dropped by almost 200 000 compared to the same period in 2019 – the last normal holiday season before the pandemic – as tourists were deterred from holidaying in the city amid concerns of poor water quality at its beaches. However the eThekwini Municipality said it was pleased with its festive season. “Apart from enjoying the sea, sand, sun and surf, visitors were also treated to a number of signature events such as the Durban Jazz Festival, Fact Durban Rocks, Woz’e Durban and many more. The accommodation occupancy rate reached 65%. This translates into 702 735 visitors with a direct spend of R1.5bn, over R3.8bn contribution to GDP, and 7 775 jobs,” said eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda.
THE closure of some Durban beaches saw Tourism KZN strongly promote its summer season media campaign, telling holidaymakers that only some of eThekwini’s beaches were closed, and that the province had 600km of coastline with many blue flag beaches. | DOCTOR NGCOBO African News Agency (ANA)
The KZN tourism trade on the North Coast, in Durban and on the South Coast have all indicated bookings increased substantially for the Christmas week until the New Year. From a slow start at the beginning of December, many upmarket hotels saw occupancies rise from around 70% to 90% to fully booked. The department believes the reason behind the initial low holiday bookings was the closure of the Durban beaches. “We are happy there were no major incidents that spoilt what was undoubtedly once again a memorable experience for our visitors. KwaZulu-Natal is by far the most popular domestic leisure tourist destination for South Africans and this past month was no different,” said Duma. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal acting chief
executive Nhlanhla Khumalo said the province would welcome the Midmar Mile on February 11, the Dusi Canoe marathon from February 16 to 18, and an array of business tourism events. “We are confident we will achieve our projected economic impact for the summer season of R4.1bn, based on a projected final occupancy rate of 70% by the end of the financial year.” However, tourism and hospitality businesses in the Midlands felt the pinch over the holidays. Marian Evans, general manager of the Midlands Meander, said while it was too early to give statistics, the sense was visitor numbers were lower than the previous season. “There were challenges with erratic water supply, load shedding and the N3
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