Durban’s tourist trap

SHOCKING: STATE OF SOME BEACHES UNACCEPTABLE, SAYS COUNCILLOR

Emergency work needs to be done.

Durban’s beaches need urgent work to get them into shape before the start of the festive season. Councillor Martin Meyer expressed his shock at the condition of the beaches between Blue Lagoon and Sunkist Beach after a recent oversight inspection.

Meyer told Berea Mail that while some beaches were still in a good state, those that fell within ward 27 needed to be improved as a matter of urgency.

“Durban is facing dropping numbers of tourists visiting our city,” he said.

“It is unacceptable that one of our biggest attractions, the Durban beachfront, is in such a terrible state before the start of the busy holiday season.

“It is unacceptable that more than a year after the October 2017 storm did so much damage ... visitors in some places cannot even access the beach area.”

Durban depended on tourism as a key industry to grow the local economy and create jobs. But when people saw the sad state of the beaches, they would not return and would also, unfortunately, through social media, alert other potential visitors, which would negatively affect tourism.

Meyer is engaging with the Durban parks and recreation department, as well as Durban Tourism, to see if emergency work can be done in the few weeks before the holiday season starts.

“I believe in Durban’s tourism potential and know that we have a lot to offer tourists. But then we have to take care of these important resources,” he said. – Caxton News Service

NEGATIVE: A beach in ward 27, which is apparently not in a fit state for the busy festive season.

CONCERNED: Councillor Martin Meyer at a walkway that has not been fixed in the past year.