Massive investments in
Massive investments in tourism are paying off New direct international flights, upgraded facilities and new hotels all point to growing confidence in the tourism sector. Major investments are being made into getting tourists to KwaZulu-Natal and new hotels are being built to accommodate the increased number of visitors. Durban’s casino has had a major refit and the Durban International Convention Centre (pictured) is constantly upgrading its facilities to cope with demand. In terms of the vital transportation of tourists into the province, the most significant developments are: • The decision to go ahead with the construction of a dedicated cruise-liner terminal in the Port of Durban. • The announcement in 2018 of a new direct British Airways (BA) flight between Heathrow Airport in London and King Shaka International Airport (KSIA). • Africa’s longest suspension bridge has dramatically reduced travel times between tourist hotspots in northern KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring country Mozambique. The Maputo-Catembe bridge forms part of a new road from Maputo to Kosi Bay which was officially opened in November 2018. KwaZulu-Natal offers astonishing variety for the visitor. Awesome natural beauty extends from the beaches all along the coastline to the iSimangaliso (Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park and the spectacular mountainous scenery of the Ukhahlamba- Drakensberg Park. The history of the Zulu kingdom includes a number of battlefield sites outlining famous clashes with the British Empire such as Isandlwana. Mahatma Gandhi lived in the province and the site of Nelson Mandela’s arrest is commemorated. Big sporting events such as the Dusi Canoe Marathon, the Durban July Handicap and the Comrades Marathon attract thousands of participants and supporters every year. In KwaZulu-Natal, the combined contribution of retail and tourism to GDP is 14%. Many thousands of visitors to KwaZulu-Natal arrive by road, and the statistics show that the Mooi River toll plaza bringing visitors from Gauteng Province is a vital portal. Improving access In 2018 Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the KwaZulu Cruise Terminal (KCT) signed an agreement for the construction of a cruise-ship terminal in the Port of Durban that will be completed by late 2020. KCT, a joint venture between MSA Cruises SA and Africa Armada Consortium, will spend R175- million on the financing‚ construction‚ maintenance and operation of a cruise terminal for a 25-year concession period. KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2019/20 18
SPECIAL FEATURE The number of cruise-ship passengers attracted to Durban grew from 42 000 in 2004/05 to 157 000 in 2010/11 and the new terminal is expected to radically improve these numbers. The number of annual passengers is expected to grow from the current 200 000 to more than 700 000 by 2040. South Africa attracts 0.5% of the world’s cruise-ship market which comprises about 15.4-million passengers annually. Durban’s hosting of 60 ships per annum will rise to 150 or more. The decision by BA to introduce a direct London flight is a major boost for KwaZulu-Natal’s main airport. Although Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines and Turkish Airlines provide direct flights to their own hubs (Doha, Dubai and Istanbul), a direct link with London will be very attractive to tourists and to importers and exporters. KSIA is within the Dube TradePort and cargo volumes have been increasing steadily every year. The opening of the ambitious Maputo-Catembe bridge has opened up a number of possibilities for tour operators in northern KwaZulu-Natal. With access to Mozambique no longer involving a tortuous process of driving through Swaziland, the chances of tourists wanting to combine a visit to the parks in South Africa with a visit to Mozambique’s vibrant capital are much higher. It is possible that the bridge itself will become a tourist attraction. The improved roads connecting Kosi Bay to Maputo will also mean increased trade, with the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone only about 250km further south from Kosi Bay. New and improved Tsogo Sun has spent R1.6-billion on refurbishing its Suncoast complex on Durban’s Golden Mile. Suncoast Casino Hotels & Entertainment covers a huge area and offers a wide variety of entertainment options. The recent upgrade included the addition of seven new restaurants, new retail outlets, a new theatre and an event venue, and increased space at the casino. More underground parking was created and the whole complex was given a fresh look. MEETINGS AND EVENTS Facts about the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC Complex • The ICC can seat 5 000 delegates • Raked seating for 1 800 can be lifted to the ceiling to clear floor space • 10 000 delegates can be accommodated when combined with the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC) • The ICC offers 70 000 square metres of column-free space • 23 meeting rooms and undercover parking for 1 200 cars • Three courtyards, one central kitchen and 12 satellite kitchens • Albert Luthuli was president of the African National Congress and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960 Tsogo Sun has four other hotels on the Golden Mile and more than 100 hotels and 14 casino and entertainment destinations in South Africa, Africa and the Seychelles. Tsogo Sun runs 14 hotels in KwaZulu- Natal, five of which are Garden Courts. Six hotels are in Durban with a further four in nearby Umhlanga, where one of the group’s most luxurious hotels, the 89-room Beverly Hills, is located. A new “mega-hotel” has been created by Tsogo Sun, with the amalgamation of the Southern Sun North Beach and Southern Sun Elangeni hotels. A key reason for Durban’s high ranking in the meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions sector (MICE) is the Durban International Convention Centre (Durban ICC). Located within the Albert Inkosi ICC Complex in downtown Durban, the venue will spend R27.3-million in 2019 on capital projects. The Durban ICC is one of the most flexible and versatile venues in the world. The main convention area of 11 600m² can be opened up to form one large venue or subdivided into 22 separate convention halls of various sizes. The refurbishment of seats in Hall 1, which can seat up to 1 680 delegates, will cost R6-million. 19 KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2019/20
