About 65 000 international travellers are expected to come through King Shaka International Airport this winter season, which would result in a 4% increase compared with the same period last year, according to a statement from Tourism KwaZulu Natal.

Ndabo Khoza, CEO of Tourism KZN, says the increase is largely due to arrivals from the UK, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. “There are large numbers of international tourists who have already booked to come to KZN over the next three months,” adds Khoza.

He says Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines have also played a role in increasing international arrivals. “There is just over a 35% increase in those bookings compared with the same period last year.”

Khoza says the low cost of the rand makes the province an affordable destination for overseas tourists but that there isn’t a single factor that the increase can be attributed to.