Hotel’s R35m update
JUST two years ago, KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast was like an old trophy in need of a good polishing, but now there is increased optimism as the region’s update allows it to shine once more.
Justin Mackrory, chief executive of Ugu Tourism South Coast, told media and guests at the launch of the refurbished Blue Marlin Hotel last week that signs of economic and tourism growth on the “forgotten” coast were now not only evident but that they were starting to make an impact on confidence in the region.
“We have a new airline service, and plans for Amazon Alley – the biggest water theme park in the southern hemisphere – are well under way.
“The R35 billion music city is going ahead. The property market is also picking up, particularly as a satellite residential area,” he said.
Mackrory said events such as the Scottburgh Spring Festival in October, the recent conservancy awards at Pennington and the proposed extension to the Scottburgh marine reserve were all ticking those little boxes which were turning the South Coast into an appealing holiday spot for domestic and international tourists.
“We are also becoming a popular destination for mountain biking. We have the Sani2c cycle race and the joBurg2c. There are an estimated 2 million cyclists in South Africa and we are going after that market,” he said.
The new motor racing track, he added, would host at least 25 events this year
Mackrory said recent media reports which suggested Durban’s Virginia Airport would move its aviation operations to Scottburgh were “very good news”.
He added that the R35 million refurbishment of the Blue Marlin Hotel, which first opened its doors in the 1950s, positioned Scottburgh as “the gem of the South Coast”.
The Dream Hotels and Resorts Group in partnership with the hotel’s owners Phillip and Sandi Curtis started the renovations two years ago.
“Upgrading the Blue Marlin is the first and most significant tourism infrastructure development in the area in almost 20 years, making the hotel the only resort of its kind on the upper South Coast,” Sandi Curtis said.
“The South Coast hasn’t really featured for many years, so we are incredibly excited about the reemergence of the area.
“We are now working closely with the mayor and the local municipality to improve the beach and surrounding areas to make it more appealing to visitors,” she said.
The mayor of the Umdoni Municipality, Siyabonga Khwela, said he had appointed a special task team to work on improvements to the beachfront.
He said a survey of the area had been completed and he promised that the issues raised would get priority in the new financial year.