ETHEKWINI received an economic boost this weekend thanks to three events hosted between 1 and 3 November.
Music and football fans flocked to the city to attend the Soweto Derby clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, the uMlazi Jazz Festival ensured entertainment galore for visitors, and a music concert by popular SA rapper AKA was held at the International Convention Centre.
Ahead of the soccer clash on Friday, the municipality reported that tickets for the Telkom Knockout quarterfinal game were sold out and expected about 45 000 fans to make their way to the stadium.
“The direct spend has been calculated at R30 million. The city projects a contribution of R52 million from the event to eThekwini’s Gross Domestic Product,” said eThekwini Municipality’s Acting Head of Communications Unit, Mandla Nsele.
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More than 8 000 people were expected to attend the uMlazi Jazz Festival with a direct spend of R15 million and a R25 million contribution to the City’s Gross Domestic Product, and more than 2 300 fans were expected to attend AKA’s concert. The City estimated the event would rack in R5 million.
“About 170 job opportunities were created by the three events and 90 per cent of hotels were fully booked,” he said.
Meanwhile, tourism officials added that cruise tourism is on the rise in Durban. The arrival of the new MS Albatross, signaled the start of the cruise season in Durban with new ships heading to the city’s port. There are 16 cruise liners docking at the port until the end of December, with an overall estimate of 30 000 passengers.
Nsele said the estimated international spend is projected at R165 million which includes the cost of the cruise and on-board spending. Direct spend to the city is projected at R18 million.
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