R2.2-billion tourism spend in iLembe at half-year mark
The local tourism industry supported 7 255 jobs and contributed R816-million to local household incomes.
The North Coast is going all out to ensure that holidaymakers have a safe and enjoyable Christmas season.
With tourist numbers and spend having doubled in the first half of the year compared to 2022, public safety is getting extra attention with additional lifeguards and drink driving roadblocks.
Launching the KZN Summer Season campaign at Salt Rock last week, provincial MEC for economic development, tourism and environmental affairs, Siboniso Duma, heaped praise on the area and its potential for further growth.
Duma pointed out that more than R2.2-billion was spent by tourists in the iLembe District in the first six months of this year, double the amount spent over the same period in 2022.
The local tourism industry supported 7 255 jobs and contributed R816-million to local household incomes.
This figure is set to more than double as the festive season fully kicks off.
Duma acknowledged the draw of KwaDukuza’s four blue flag beaches and said he was looking forward to increased international tourism by way of the Club Med Tinley development.
“To date international tourists to the district had risen to 23% while domestic visitors continued to be biggest tourism supporters at 77%,” he said.
“The international tourists were from Germany (26%), the UK (18%), the Netherlands (6%), Australia (6%) and the USA (5%).”
To manage increased demand over the festive period, iLembe has added 50 temporary lifeguards.
Efforts to manage alcohol consumption will include a traffic and police checkpoint at Umvoti Toll Plaza, one of the main entry points to the district, from December 15.
It is aimed at preventing drunk driving incidents on the N2, which has seen high accident rates this year.
Further boosting the North Coast’s appeal is the flawless water testing results run independently by the Ballito Urban Improvement Precinct.
The weekly tests at eight beaches and four tidal pools have shown ‘ideal’ water quality since May 9.
This stands in stark contrast to eThekwini’s ongoing water troubles and is likely to send bathers north.
More detailed safety plans for iLembe, Tongaat and Umdloti were reported in recent editions of the Courier. Find them online for more information.
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