As winter settles on South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is expecting to add at least R1,4 billion to its economy as thousands of holiday makers flock to the province from around the country, neighbouring SADC countries and further afield to revel in the coastal warmth and warm local hospitality.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), Mr Siboniso Duma who was not able to attend at the launch of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal’s Winter Campaign, at the Hilltop Camp in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve today, Fikiswa Pupuma, Acting HOD EDTEA, said:
“Based on current hotel and B&B bookings, KwaZulu-Natal can expect at least 430 821 domestic tourists and 48 842 international tourists to visit during June and July, providing a combined direct spend of over R1,4 billion for the provincial economy. We are expecting as much as 70% of the domestic tourists and 60% of the international travelers to visit the province during the four weeks from mid-June to mid-July.”
Also highlighted was Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s success in growing its tourist numbers post the pandemic. From April 2022 to April 2023 the number of visitors to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife facilities increased by 65%, from almost 40 000 to just over 66 000 beating their pre-Covid 2019 figures of 56 385.
It was all the success stories like that of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife that had contributed to tourism rebound of the province with a total of 7,7 million tourists during 2022, which translated into a direct economic spend of over R19 billion for KZN.
“Our goal is to continue increasing the number of domestic and international tourists as we rebuild and expand our tourism sector, which will continue to be a key focus area for provincial government,” he said.
On the point of expanding the tourism sector, Duma turned to film tourism which is on the rise in South Africa and recognised as a lucrative sector within the tourism industry. This niche form of tourism occurs when visitors explore awe-inspiring locations and destinations which have been used in films and television series.
“I think it is safe to say that KwaZulu-Natal has caught the eye of film and television producers. Most recent productions that used KZN as a backdrop are television series Reyke, The Woman King an historical epic movie with an all-star cast which was a blockbuster across the globe, and classic telenovela Shaka iLembe which features several talents from KwaZulu-Natal and had millions of viewers glued to their TV screens this past Sunday.
Events to look out for in July, include the Durban Film Festival, the Ballito Pro-surfing contest, the Hollywood Bets Durban July followed by the Dundee July, a traditional rural horse trotting event, and Currie Cup rugby fixtures.
MEC Duma said government was working with SAPS, private sector stakeholders and communities to ensure that safety remained top priority this winter season . “This means that we will not only be doing our utmost to ensure road safety, but we also want to ensure that holidaymakers are safe when they visit our tourist establishments and are able to enjoy their holidays with no care in the world.
He also encouraged the people of KZN become greater ambassadors and explore tourism attractions within their own province. “One of the most important things that we learnt during the pandemic was the value of staycations. That a short getaway close to home can make all the difference.”
MEC Duma also noted the huge role that the tourism trade played in growing tourism in KZN and its reputation as a must visit destination and said:
“You are the reason that holidaymakers keep coming to KwaZulu-Natal. It is at your establishments where holidaymakers truly feel the warmth of KZN and create unforgettable memories that they continue to share with their networks who keep holidaymakers coming to the Zulu Kingdom.”