Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) hopes to build on the momentum of the R2.4 billion (€128.5m) tourism revenue injection to the provincial economy over the festive season.
“Over the next two months we will welcome visitors for the popular Midmar Mile on February 11 and the Dusi Canoe Marathon from February 16-18, along with an array of business tourism events,” said TKZN Acting Chief Executive Nhlanhla Khumalo
He added: “We are also confident that we will achieve our projected economic impact for the summer season of R4.1 billion (€219.5m), based on a projected final occupancy rate of 70% by the end of the financial year.”
This follows the announcement last week by the provincial MEC of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, that 520 000 domestic tourists and 51 000 international tourists visited KwaZulu Natal for the festive period.
Preliminary figures also showed that KZN’s occupancy rate from December 26 to January 12 soared to an average of 81% across the province against an early forecast for an average provincial occupancy rate of 69% at the peak of the holiday season.
“It is pleasing that the province’s districts beat festive season expectations as this indicates that holidaymakers took time to explore other experiences offered across the region.”
Summer season campaign
Khumalo said the closure of some Durban beaches due to the pollution, saw TKZN implement a strong summer season media campaign telling holiday-makers that only some of eThekwini’s beaches were closed, and that KZN had 600km of coastline with many beaches – including Blue Flag beaches on the South and North Coasts.
The destination marketing authority had also highlighted the province’s other tourist attractions – from the Drakensberg to Big-Five safaris.
“The sharp increase in occupancies in the week from Christmas to New Year, particularly in the northern and southern KZN districts, suggests that our message hit home. The opening of popular beaches during December and Umhlanga beach on December 23 may also have encouraged last-minute holiday bookings,” said Khumalo.
Shorter festive season trend
He highlighted that, post-pandemic, TKZN had noticed that the holiday season had become a lot shorter – starting on December 16, peaking over the week from Christmas to New Year and then dropping sharply in the first two weeks of January to 40% and 15% respectively, as holiday-makers headed home.
“It must be noted that the province’s festive season figures reflect performance for the December period only and bode well for the final tally when the summer season draws to a close at the end of March 2023,” commented Khumalo.
