Festive boom delivers billions to eThekwini economy
Visitor numbers surged, accommodation filled up, and tourism GDP nearly doubled over the holiday period with 14 000 jobs created.
FROM December 1 to January 12 eThekwini was the place to be for the festive season with the city reporting that over 1.2 million people visited its beaches while a further 1.2 million bathers were recorded to have made use of the 43 municipal swimming pools.
“Let me state without hesitation that this was the best festive season the City has experienced in many years,” said eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba who was reporting on the City’s bumper season at the Mayoral Tourism Editors’ Engagement Luncheon on Thursday (January 15).
He said with all beaches operational, the City welcomed thousands of visitors during the festive season, with many areas reaching full capacity. eThekwini estimates that there were over 6 800 000 visitors, including swimmers and promenade users, from December 1 to January 12.
“Preliminary figures indicate that the City welcomed close to 1 200 000 visitors, up from 998 000 last year – a 19% increase. Accommodation occupancy rose to 77%, from 72% in 2024.
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“Direct tourism spend increased from R2.2b to R2.7b, reflecting a 24% increase. The sector’s GDP contribution grew from R5.5b to R9.6b, creating over 14 000 job opportunities,” said Xaba.
The city’s golden sand beaches and entertainment were a major drawcard for visitors. The City implemented a comprehensive Waste Management Plan, which included the deployment of additional cleaning teams, structured shift systems and roving teams.
These measures ensured a clean, safe, and welcoming coastline. An integrated safety plan involving all law enforcement agencies, including SAPS, Metro Police, and private security companies was also implemented.
“More than 2 000 officers were deployed for day and night patrols on freeways, the beachfront, shopping centres, and crime hotspots, supported by a network of over 500 CCTV cameras. This ensured heightened law-enforcement visibility across the City, particularly in entertainment precincts,” said Xaba.
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