uMhlanga Tourism celebrates 25 years

DURBAN has been identified as South Africa’s tourism key hub and for the first time, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism MEC, Michael Mabuyakhulu, has recognised this. This was according to Peter Rose, uMhlanga Tourism’s chairman, at the tourism office’s 25th anniversary celebrations and launch of the uMhlanga Summer Festival at the Oyster Box Hotel last week.

Dubbed the country’s friendliest city, Durban sees about one million tourists visiting the city per year, with 16 per cent of these tourists being international tourists.

“What’s interesting about this statistic is that the 16 per cent of international tourists visiting Durban account for about 66 per cent of the city’s tourist spend. We at uMhlanga Tourism are facing a two-fold challenge. Firstly, we want to boost international tourism in Durban, and secondly, we want to boost the tourist spend,” said Rose.

Reminiscing on 25 years’, Rose said: “When uMhlanga Tourism was founded 25 years ago uMhlanga was a small village. In 1988 there were 12 days of entertainment arranged over the summer festival period and all this was accomplished without today’s technology. What an amount of change we’ve seen in such a short space of time. We can’t even imagine a life without Twitter, Facebook or websites.”

He thanked all involved, in the past 25 years, for making uMhlanga Tourism what it is today.

“Today we have about 250 000 people visiting the uMhlanga Tourism website per month. We also have a DVD which is screened on some of our memebers’ websites and we’re in the process of developing festival websites, which will also be linked to the main website,” Rose added.

Peter also paid tribute to one of the founders of uMhlanga Tourism, former mayor of uMhlanga, Henry Reynolds, who is still an active member of uMlhanga Tourism. Other people who were recognised at the celebration were: councillor, Geoff Pullan; former councillor, Rory Macphearson; the uMhlanga Tourism operators and other active members and committee members of uMhlanga Tourism.

“I also thank our uMhlanga Summer Festival sponsors, without them, none of this would be possible,” Rose added.

Logie Naidoo, speaker of the eThekwini Municipality, said Durban is in the process of getting back its Blue Flag Beaches, “We are committed to making sure we have world-class facilities for tourism here in uMhlanga. uMhlanga Tourism continues to be the gem of eThekwini for tourism and eThekwini Municipality wants to make sure we retain that. We should all be behind the MEC to grow international tourism.”

INFO BOX:

uMhlanga Lizzard Nature Valley Surf Fest

FROM 7 to 8 December at uMhlanga’s main beach there are more than R50 000 worth of prizes to be won. Visit www.kzncentralsurfing.co.za to enter. Contact Paul Izzard on 082 555 6161 or Janine Mets on 082 776 8433.

Beach Activation

DAILY activities will have families entertained with a variety of fun and games on the stage and beach from 10am till 2pm with talent competitions, kiddies sing-alongs and games from 9 to 22 December. The activities will be co-ordinated and MC’d by Kevin Ellis.

uMhlanga Beauty Pageant

THE uMhlanga Beauty Pageant will be held on the beach as part of the beach activities. The competition is open to girls from 16 years of age and older. It is suggested that they enter online ahead of time. There are two heats. The first is on Wednesday 11 December and the second on Wednesday 18 December from noon till 1pm. The finals will be on 21 December from noon until 1pm. The beauty pageant will be co-ordinated and MC’d by Kevin Ellis. Visit www.umhlangafestivals.co.za to enter.

uMhlanga Liberty Summer Trail Run / Walk

THE start and finish of this popular race is at uMhlanga Millennium Stage and the race starts at 6am.

The summer version of the uMhlanga Liberty 5km / 12km / 18km Trail Run and Walk is on Sunday 15 December and entries are open on the ROAG website.

For the first time, the event will cater for three events, a 5km run, a 12km run and walk and an 18km trail run.

Visit www.ROAG.co.za to enter. For more information, email Buzz at buzzhilde@vodamail.co.za

Entry fee is R40 for the 5km run and walk, R80 for the 12km run and walk and R100 for the 18km trail run. Late entries will be accepted on the day.

Carols By Candlelight

THE annual Granada Square Carol Service provides time for reflection and fellowship with a programme of Christmas carols and seasonal songs sung by carollers with audience participation on Thursday 19 December at 6.30pm. Those

attending are asked to take an unwrapped gift for distribution to the less fortunate, in an initiative supported by Rotary. There will be a Harley parade by members of the Harley Davidson HOGs culminating at Granada Square at 6.30pm. Father Christmas is anticipated to arrive at 7pm.

Chartwell Drive Street Party

ON Saturday 21 December from 6pm until midnight Chartwell Drive will be closed to traffic for a free family-friendly street party. There will be entertainers such as, fire jugglers, mascots and clowns, and there will be stalls selling festive fare. This event is sponsored by Castle Lite. The

festival is at the uMhlanga Main Beach and Village and is hosted by uMhlanga Tourism, under the chairmanship of Peter Rose, in association with eThekwini Municipality and Durban Tourism, and produced by Firstline Promotions. For more information, contact Carroll Lazarus on 031 312 1281 or visit www.umhlangafestivals.co.za