New beachfront resorts to boost KZN tourism
THE Kwa-Zulu-Natal government is looking into the development of new beachfront resorts to enhance the province’s tourism experience as it aims to attract more than R1 billion in direct revenue from meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions over the next three years.
This was announced by MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala at a Tourism Indaba breakfast yesterday just hours before President Jacob Zuma announced that the city would continue to host the event for the next five years.
Zikalala said potential resort sites would be located relatively close to King Shaka International Airport with an easy drive to central Durban, such as Nonoti, Blythedale, Tinley Manor and Port Durnford.
This had come as a result of research undertaken and feedback received from international tour operators, which had indicated that the KZN coastline lacked international brand-recognised three- to five-star hotels.
“Beach resorts have also been identified for development, given the fact that we have not been able to accommodate large incoming groups in a single venue has been a hindrance, and one which has significantly impacted the growth of the sector,” said Zikalala.
Resort development would have a knock-on effect, stimulating the expansion and advancement of other tourist attractions and experiences, infrastructure, SMME development and support, transformation and the attraction of additional investment and job creation, he said.
Zikalala said the provincial government was also looking into the feasibility of developing a second international convention centre, among other flagships projects, including the Drakensberg cable car and the King Shaka statue.
“Kwa-Zulu-Natal’s key attractions are diverse and combine to make the province a major force to be reckoned with as we compete against other top-flight international and African tourism destinations.”
Zikalala said the Routes Development Committee, created to improve the city’s connectivity through the introduction of direct international flights to King Shaka International Airport, had succeeded in connecting to 11 international destinations.
Zikalala said that business events, incentives, exhibitions, congresses and conferences had emerged as important catalysts for socio-economic development in target destinations.
He said Meetings Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions (Mice) business was expected to generate R1.1 billion in direct revenue with a R2.2bn macro-economic impact for the province over the next three years.
Later, reacting to Zuma’s announcement, Zikalala said that hosting the Tourism Indaba for the next five years would help the province build a globally competitive tourism industry.
Industry stakeholders welcomed the announcement.
eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede said the decision was a vote of confidence in the city’s ability to host mega events. “Over the next five years, we will raise the bar to a level where government will have no choice but to make Indaba a permanent Durban show,” she said.
Chief executive of the Durban ICC, Lindiwe Rakharebe, said the ICC was thrilled with the announcement.
“Indaba is one of the highlights of our year and the ideal showcase of the amazing tourism offerings available in Durban and Kwa-ZuluNatal, not to mention that the event is also the premier platform to discuss the growth and development of our tourism industry,” she said.
Charles Preece, operations manager for the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa’s East Coast region, said the decision would benefit the local hospitality industry as hotels experienced high occupancy rates during Indaba and similar events.
KZN Bed and Breakfast Association chairperson Heather Hunter welcomed the news, saying B&Bs benefited from such events and the continued hosting of Indaba would help to sustain jobs.
Zuma made the announcement after he officially opened the event attended by about 7 000 delegates. He spoke of plans to make the country one of the world’s top 20 tourism destinations.
The tourism industry contributes about 9% to the country’s GDP annually. In 2015, tourism had contributed about R375bn to the economy, he said.
“Tourism now supports over 1.5 million jobs in total, and we want tourism to support over 2.2 million jobs by 2026.”
Zuma said as part of a “5 in 5” growth strategy the country aimed to attract five million more international arrivals and domestic tourists within five years.
The strategy includes investing in new international source markets, including the Middle East and Asia.
“Black entrepreneurs will be targeted to be leaders growing these new markets. We are looking to achieve at least 30% black ownership of the tourism industry,” he said.
Zuma said South Africa was partnering with sister countries within the continent to promote tourism in Africa, which had enjoyed an 8% increase in international tourist arrivals last year with potential for further growth.