Poo blues hit Durban tourism again
The hospitality industry has expressed concern that Durban and Umhlanga have failed to bounce back this festive season due to persistent challenges related to sewage, water quality and road infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa) said the issues are a disconcerting reality that cast a shadow over the region’s once-booming sector.
Brett Tungay, chairperson of Fedhasa’s East Coast region, said indications point to no improvement in occupancy rates compared with a year ago.
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (Tourism KZN) previously reported an occupancy rate of 81% across the province from December 26 2022 to January 1 2023, with 520,000 domestic and 51,000 international tourists providing a R2.4bn boost to the provincial economy.
“Looking at the whole province, it’s mixed [this festive season] because Durban and Umhlanga didn’t have a good festive season. Some of the places in the area reported a massive 30% less compared with the previous festive season. Members in these areas attributed this to the issues about the beaches,” Tungay said.
“However, areas such as Ballito and Drakensberg experienced an increase in visitors and had good occupancy. Local businesses in those areas saw good numbers and that was pleasing.
“We are yet to get an understanding about the situation on the South Coast. We were hoping to overtake last year’s numbers, but that seems like it won’t be the case.”
The province has been a magnet in previous years for visitors seeking to enjoy its beaches, vibrant culture, landscapes, and warm hospitality.
But the backbone of tourism in the region the hospitality sector is grappling with critical infrastructure deficiencies. Tungay said persistent sewerage issues in eThekwini, causing uncertainty about the health of the beaches, were a pressing concern.
Water challenges on the south coast also created doubt among tourists, he said. Inadequate road infrastructure in the north of the province and the Drakensberg area hampers accessibility and poses safety risks.
“Municipalities should take charge of these issues because it seems like there is no political will from any of them to sort them out. The sector can’t do much, so there needs to be collaboration between the private sector and government,” he said.
The province experienced heavy December rains, which prompted fewer people to head to the beaches.
Tungay said the festive season for the hospitality sector typically runs from December 15 to January 7.
While five South Coast beaches Marina, Trafalgar, Southport, Umzumbe and Hibberdene are among the few awarded Blue Flag status this season, water challenges remain. Ugu municipality, which covers the South Coast, said a comprehensive plan is in place to provide water and sanitation services.
None of Durban’s beaches was awarded Blue Flag status for the 2023/24 festive season. Five of its bathing beaches last held the status, which is accorded on various criteria including water quality, in 2021.
The city released a report after joint sampling with nonprofit organisation AdoptA-River, of beach water quality on December 7 and testing by independent laboratory Talbot. Six popular beaches and three rivers had as much as 1,000 times the acceptable levels of E. coli and were closed.
They were reopened after the city said joint sampling on December 11 indicated an improvement.
Southern Africa Tourism Services Association CEO David Frost called for urgent action by the city to address sewerage infrastructure issues. “This must be treated as a critical priority. Tourism is a key economic driver. We cannot afford to miss out on the economic opportunities that the peak season brings,” he said.
Frost also called for regular communication about addressing the water-quality crisis and infrastructure repairs.
Transparency is crucial in restoring confidence among tourists, hospitality stakeholders and investors, he said.
Still, Frost said Durban remains a vibrant tourist destination thanks to the resilience and passion of local tourism stakeholders, adding that KwaZulu-Natal has something to offer every type of traveller.
“Beyond Durban, KwaZulu-Natal offers bush, mountain and game park experiences in areas like the Drakensberg Mountains, Midlands and greater Zululand regions. The province is also home to over 400km of magnificent coastline beaches to discover, and many unaffected beaches in the Durban area can still be enjoyed,” he said.
Regardless of the challenges faced by eThekwini, many tourists descended on Durban for the holidays and the area was buzzing from December 14.
Economic development, tourism and environmental affairs MEC Siboniso Duma said Tourism KZN will present detailed tourism figures later in January. The province has seen occupancy rates increase about 2% on average since December 1.
“We are encouraged by the drastic improvements in terms of accommodation bookings compared with last year. We are still receiving enquiries about entertainment activities and accommodation with visitors interested in visiting inland, along our coastline and in the townships,” Duma said.