The July in full swing
BIG DAY: ETHEKWINI MAYOR CONFIDENT OF MASSIVE ECONOMIC SPINOFFS ‘Horseracing, entertainment, hospitality, tourism can benefit again.’
About 35 000 punters and fashionistas are expected to descend on the city for the Hollywoodbets Durban July experience this weekend. The popular horseracing event is being held today at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse where attendees are guaranteed a fun-filled and relaxed experience.
This comes after a successful Durban July experience media launch this week which unpacked the city’s state of readiness to host the R5 million record stake horseracing event.
Addressing the media, eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said: “We are more excited about the economic spinoffs that this event is going to bring to the city.
“The estimated 35 000 people who will head to the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse are expected to spend R145 million, with the gross domestic product in economic activity projected to be R362 million.
“An estimated 740 people within the tourism and hospitality as well as related value chains industry will get employment because of this event.”
Kaunda said with the massive economic spinoffs expected, Durban is indeed “bouncing back”.
He said safety measures are in place and gave reassurance that everything will run smoothly on the big day.
To provide visitors with a true authentic township experience, the city is extending the July experience to satellite venues.
This is also due to ticket sale restrictions at the main venue. The satellite venues include Magaba Lounge, Mojo’s Carwash and Shisanyama, Max’s Lifestyle, Under the Moon, and Maqaqa Lounge Lifestyle. All five venues will feature a fashion element, entertainment, and online betting in a bid to offer a holistic July experience for patrons.
Kaunda said fashion remains an important part of the July experience. He said local designers, especially emerging designers, will get exposure during the event when showcasing their collection that portrays this year’s theme “Show Me the Honey”.
Stephen Marshall, Gold Circle event and marketing executive, said it is the first July experience to take place post-Covid restrictions being lifted.
“This is going to be a major event and prove beneficial to businesses. There are so many businesses that have been affected over the past two years when we held the event behind closed doors.
“It has come as a welcome relief that the horseracing, entertainment, hospitality, and tourism industries can once again benefit from the revenues that are generated by the Hollywoodbets Durban July.”
“We welcome the lifting of Covid restrictions. We are seeing growing interest to visit Durban,” he said.