Festive season tourists boost KZN economy by R2.4bn
Tourists injected R2.4-billion into the provincial economy
Festive season numbers in KZN indicate the province remains a top tourism destination for the domestic and international markets.
This is according to KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs Siboniso Duma, who announced at a recent briefing that the tourists injected R2.4-billion into the provincial economy.
“KZN is by far the most popular domestic leisure tourist destination for South Africans and this past month was no different.
“We do not doubt that our efforts to revive the tourism sector will yield a positive outcome. The role of the tourism sector in the economic transformation of our country and our province is immeasurable,” said Duma.
KZN welcomed some 520 000 domestic tourists and 51 000 international tourists over the festive season, with a projected estimation of 760 000 domestic trips and 58 000 international visitors over the entire summer season.
“At the beginning of December, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal research estimated that average hotel occupancy rates for KZN would reach 60% at Christmas and New Year.
“KwaDukuza was expected to peak at 80%, Hibiscus at 78%, Umdoni at 78%, Okhahlamba at 70%, and Umgeni at 64%.
“From 19 to 25 December 2022, KZN’s average hotel occupancy rate was 57% – three percent lower than our projections. But from December 26 to January 1, 2023, average occupancy rates exceeded all our expectations, reaching 81%.
“The KZN tourism trade on the north coast, Durban, and south coast indicated that bookings increased substantially for the Christmas week until New Year. From a slow start at the beginning of December, many upmarket hotels are seeing occupancies rise from around 70% to 90% to fully booked,” Duma said.
He thanked residents for showing true hospitality to visitors and reported no major incidents over the festive season.
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