Durban — KwaZulu-Natal Tourism is expecting a booming festive season.
This emerged during the launch of Durban Tourism’s 2022 summer campaign at the Durban Travel Extravaganza on Friday.
The launch was held at The Octavia Boutique Hotel in Inanda, north of Durban.
Deputy chairperson of Tourism Business Forum in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu, Mel Ntombela, said: “Since we have not been operating under the lockdown, we are expecting a huge boost in terms of activities around tourism. The Octavia is an addition to our Inanda destination tourism and we are happy people will get to experience Inanda to the fullest.
“We are excited because normally these kinds of launches and events are held in the CBDs, but this one was done outside in the rural area. This brings so much development and hope to our people.”
Chairperson of Tourism Forum, Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, John Aritho, said he was confident that people in and outside the city would look forward to visiting Inanda.
“In the 12 years I have been in this province I have seen its beauty and development growing rapidly. Today, we are inside a hotel in a township, yet if you close your eyes you could be anywhere in the world, but it is your city,” he said.
Aritho said he believed Durban had class and everything needed, more than the UK or the Western Cape.
“I look forward to other judges coming to Inanda and rating this establishment. This is an example that vision can be born if someone believes in their dreams,” he said.
Radio personality and comedian Felix Hlophe urged people to take full ownership of everything to do with heritage, culture and historical places in the province.
“We have to support local businesses, such as Max’s Lifestyle and Eyadini, and make sure there are no crimes in those areas. We also have to make sure that areas where those businesses are based also do benefit from those establishments whenever there are huge events, such as the Durban July and other events. Let’s support our very own local business,” he said.
Hlophe said since the Octavia Hotel was based in Inanda, one of the crime hot spots in the province, it was a second chance to redeem and change the area’s narrative.
He urged communities to behave themselves and make sure tourists and visitors felt safe and welcome.
eThekwini deputy city manager Philip Sithole said the aim of the campaign was to foster relationships with established businesses in the city and grow together in bringing people to Durban.
He said the campaign would be a collaborative effort with local and national stakeholders, locally and nationally.
“We will be working together. We will be doing this summer campaign with various stakeholders, like community tourism organisations, and departments within the city and nationally, including people from the creative industry. The city will continue to work and support both emerging and well-established tourism products to promote tourism in Durban,” Sithole said.
He said the beach closures remained a challenge as the city’s uniqueness relied on its coast.
However, eThekwini mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda, said that the city’s beaches would be ready by this year’s festive season.
Daily News