The festive season has delivered a major economic boost to KwaZulu-Natal, with early indicators from the hospitality sector confirming a powerful recovery and exceeding pre-season predictions.
Tourism bodies had forecast that Durban alone would see over one million visitors, contributing to an estimated R13 billion in provincial spend. On-the-ground reports now suggest those targets were not only met but surpassed in key areas, marking one of the strongest holiday periods since the pandemic.
A significant factor in the season’s success was the reopening of the city’s beaches. While the closure of some beaches, including Umgababa and Bronze Beach in the Umdoni area, raised concerns initially, municipal authorities managed to open 22 of Durban’s 23 beaches for the holidays.
The positive impact is clear in hotel occupancy rates. According to the municipality, some establishments achieved 100% occupancy, while others averaged around 75%. Speaking from the Coastlands hotel group, CEO Saantha Naidu reported an exceptionally strong season for his properties.
“Our occupancy in Umhlanga has been very, very good. It’s the best that we had after COVID,” said Naidu. “We were running between 90 and 100% over the last two weeks. The other hotels in Durban were fairly good, running around 80%. I think we had one of the bumper seasons this year.”
Naidu, whose group operates five hotels with approximately 1,000 beds in Durban, including Coastlands Umhlanga and Coastlands Durban Sky, attributed the high occupancy to the value and amenities offered. He acknowledged the temporary beach closures had an initial effect, but said the season “picked up” significantly once they reopened, attracting transients who spent money in the city.
On the streets and beaches of Durban, the sentiment echoed the hospitality data. Reports from the ground indicated a vibrant atmosphere with a significant return of inter-provincial travel, including visitors from the Western Cape, suggesting a broad return to pre-pandemic travel norms. The consistently sunny weather during the period was also cited as a key draw for holidaymakers.
The season’s performance in Durban is viewed as a leading indicator of the festive period’s overall economic success and signals a robust recovery for South Africa’s domestic tourism sector, with international visitor numbers also reported to be steadily improving.