Durbs a damp squib

NO CHEER: CITY’S FESTIVE SEASON TOURISM FIGURES DEALT A BLOW

Infrastructure challenges cited as reasons for drop in number of visitors.

The hospitality industry in Durban and uMhlanga has voiced its concerns about the failure of these KwaZulu-Natal tourist hot spots to bounce back during the festive season.

The Sunday Times reported yesterday that persistent challenges related to sewage, water quality and road infrastructure were the key issues affecting KZN’s tourism sector.

Brett Tungay, chair of the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa East Coast region, said there were indications that there had been no improvement in occupancy rates compared with the previous year.

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal reported an occupancy rate of 81% across the province from 26 December 2022, to 1 January 2023, providing a significant boost to the provincial economy.

But he said Durban and uMhlanga did not have a good 2023 festive season, with some places reporting a substantial 30% decrease compared with the previous year. This was attributed to issues with the beaches.

The hospitality sector, which is the backbone of tourism in KZN, is facing critical infrastructure deficiencies.

Ongoing sewage issues in eThekwini, water challenges on the South Coast and inadequate road infrastructure in the north of the province and the Drakensberg area are identified as major concerns.

Tungay emphasised the need for collaboration between the private sector and government to address these issues, saying that municipalities should take charge.

Heavy December rains also contributed to fewer people heading to the beaches. Despite five South Coast beaches receiving Blue Flag status, water challenges persist. None of Durban’s beaches were awarded Blue Flag status for the 2023/24 festive season due to water quality issues.

David Frost, CEO of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association, called for urgent action by the city to address sewerage infrastructure issues. He emphasised the critical role tourism played in the province’s economy.

He also stressed the importance of transparency in communication to restore confidence among tourists, hospitality stakeholders and investors.

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Picture: iStock POO BLUES. Regular beach closures in Durban due to high E. coli levels and heavy rainfall kept tourists away from Durban’s golden beaches this festive season.