By Fred Felton | Sep. 7, 2025
Durban’s tourism stakeholders expressed
enthusiasm following a productive engagement session with eThekwini Mayor,
Councillor Cyril Xaba and City leadership.
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| The Mayoral Tourism Trade Stakeholder Engagement Breakfast held earlier this week brought together trade, government, private sector, and community stakeholders to shape a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient tourism future. | Photo: Supplied. |
At a recent Mayoral Tourism Trade
Stakeholder engagement held earlier this week at the Southern Sun Elangeni and
Maharani Hotel, the Mayor met with over 90 representatives from a variety of
tourism sectors in the tourism industry. This included businesses, private
sector, associations, and key trade stakeholders.
The aim of the gathering was to discuss
sector development, addressing existing challenges, promoting new programmes,
and gathering valuable feedback. This engagement aimed to strengthen partnerships,
engage on discussions of how to boost the local economy, create job
opportunities, and enhance the tourist experience by fostering collaboration
between private sector and the government.
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| Mayor Xaba delivering his keynote at the breakfast. | Photo: Fred Felton. |
Mayor Xaba noted that it was fitting that
this engagement took place during Tourism Month, a period dedicated to
highlighting the tourism sector’s vital role in the economy of South Africa.
‘’The engagement, themed: ‘Collectively
taking Durban tourism to greater heights,’ is a call for us all to strengthen
the partnerships that exist between government and the private sector, with the
ultimate goal of unlocking growth opportunities within our tourism ecosystem,’’
said Mayor Xaba.
Stakeholders were assured by Mayor Xaba
that the City leadership remains committed to working collaboratively with the
sector to develop a comprehensive roadmap that promotes a tourism industry
capable of creating jobs, empowering communities, and benefiting residents.
The eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele also
made some major announcements, including:
Tourist Safety Tech Boost – This is a new
mobile app that will soon connect and activate security establishments within a
500-metre radius, providing tourists with peace of mind during their Durban
visit.
Sports Tourism Drive – The City is in
talks with COSAFA Games and the American Homecoming Programme to host
activities during an entire month of the tournament, positioning Durban as a
premier sports tourism hub.
Expanding Connectivity – Durban is looking
at plans for a second airport on the South Coast, aiming to significantly
improve access and foster regional tourism growth.
Durban has also launched South Africa’s
first dedicated Coastal and Tourism Policing Unit, responsible for the
patrolling of 100 km of coastline. This pioneering initiative forms part of a
broader safety strategy to ensure residents and visitors enjoy safe beaches.
The goal is to sustain and strengthen this unit, setting a national benchmark
for beach and tourism safety.
‘’International arrivals increased to
186 000 between January and May this year, while domestic tourists rose to
2.8 million, compared to the same period last year. These numbers reaffirm
Durban’s status as a compelling destination for both domestic and international
travellers, thanks to our unique blend of nature, culture and history,’’ said
Mbhele.
He also highlighted successful
collaborative projects that have already begun to shape Durban’s future,
including the Beachwood Development, Sibaya Precinct, and Oceans South
Residential Tower, which hold immense potential to attract visitors and
investments.
‘’The regeneration of Durban’s Inner City
is gaining momentum with 47 of 120 derelict buildings already addressed,’’
added Mbhele.
Stakeholders also applauded the efforts of
the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG), established in April 2024. The
PeWG’s mission is to tackle critical challenges faced by the Municipality.
‘’It’s about working together to promote
Durban as a destination of choice and to develop it sustainably,’’ said
Chairperson of the Economic Development and Planning Committee, Councillor
Themo Ntuli.
Mbhele also urged stakeholders to
participate in the upcoming reSURGEnce Conference, scheduled to take place at
the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, from 20 to 24
September 2025. He noted that tourism discussions will be central to the event,
which will host over 150 delegates from various countries, including key
participants from the United States.
Samantha Croft, Chairperson of the Tourism Committee Group for the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Operations Director for the KwaZulu-Natal Region of the Southern Sun hotel group, said the engagement with the Mayor was highly informative, it provided a platform for trade to engage directly with the City.
