‘No Andre Slades in KZN tourism’
KWAZULU-NATAL residents love to travel and, with a growing and diverse customer base, the Andre Slade types in the industry need to be changed.
Newly installed KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala praised the work done in the tourism sector in KZN at the opening of the first KZN Travel and Adventure Show at the Durban Exhibition Centre yesterday, but said there were still many challenges to be overcome.
With a growing and diverse customer base, and with KZN being one of the most important magnets for domestic tourism, Zikalala said the industry needed to change.
“We simply cannot afford to be like Andre Slade, owner of Sodwana Guest House,” said Zikalala.
Slade made the news last month when he said that black people and government employees were not allowed to book in at his lodge, Sodwana Bay Guest House.
“It has become clear that, in spite of the intervening years since the birth of democracy in South Africa, the benefits of tourism have not significantly filtered through all population demographics here in KZN. This is a challenge, but not an insurmountable barrier.”
He said KZN was considered to be a very important source market for tourism.
“While there exist a number of tourism consumer shows around the country, none occur in KZN… we need to heighten awareness of just what the tourist gem that is KwaZuluNatal has to offer,” he said.
The show aimed to showcase what KZN had to offer, and build on ideas to grow the industry and attract a growing customer base.
Tourism KZN chief executive Ndabo Khoza said: “There is great demand for a show like this to fulfil the needs of the new-age traveller.
“Most tourists no longer regard a holiday as an opportunity to break away and relax. Many now want to achieve more during their holidays and are now seeking aspirational travel experiences, filled with unique and exciting adventureand adrenalin-filled experiences, from mountain biking and shark diving to zipline and bungee jumping.”