Durban welcomes 90 000 visitors supporting Comrades Marathon
Make a note of the roads that will be closed on Saturday evening and Sunday, 31 May.
MORE than 90 000 visitors, comprising participants, spectators and families, are expected to reside in Durban this weekend for the 90th Comrades Marathon on Sunday, 31 May.
The starting gun will be fired by Durban Mayor, Cllr James Nxumalo, at 5.30am in Durban on Sunday, as the Comrades Marathon – described as the ultimate human race – starts and ends 12 hours later at the Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg.
Phillip Sithole, head of Durban Tourism, said that this year the number of participants almost doubled compared to last year, and the up run will be a major boost to the local tourism industry.
“The economically viable next few days will contribute a booming R200-million to the overall growth of the tourism industry and economic impact of the city. The accommodation sector is already recording high occupancies at all establishments,” added Sithole.
Mike Jackson, director of operations in KZN of Tsogo Sun, said the Durban beachfront hotels are at an average of 99 per cent full, and Stay Easy Hotel and Southern Sun Hotel at Golden Horse Casino in PMB are fully booked, as are the Elangeni and Maharani hotels. South Beach and Sun Coast are 95 per cent full.
An estimated four per cent of international guests are staying in the Tsogo Sun properties. The Umhlanga Properties are 80 per cent booked.
Durban Tourism will also promote The Durban Fun Season at the Comrades Expo at the Durban Exhibition Centre. All visitors are encouraged to visit the Durban Tourism stand to find out more on what can be done while in the beautiful city.
Entrance is free, so take your family and friends along to experience this pre-race spectacle and get your free Durban mementos. Durban Tourism will also provide a hospitality area in Pietermaritzburg for the international runners.
Quick Facts:
• The world greatest ultra marathon’s official distance is 87.72km, making it one of the longer up runs in recent history.
• 22 370 runners registered and 19 000 will participate, with a high international presence that increased by five per cent. The majority of the international runners are from the UK, USA and Australia.
• The number of visitors (including participants, families, friends, spectators, organisers and locals) projected: 90 000.
• Number of jobs sustained: 450.
• Number of international visitors: five per cent increase from 2014 to 1 429, and 642 runners from other parts of Africa (based on participant registration).
• Domestic visitors: 45 per cent – 20 299 based on participant registration.
• Total tourist average stay per night for the Comrades is three nights.
Check out the road closures for Saturday, 30 May and Sunday, 31 May.
