Durban, once the crown jewel of South African holidays, is facing a major tourist slump. Once dubbed “The city where the fun never sets,” the coastal city has seen its tourist numbers dwindle, with fewer people visiting each year. In the past, Durban was a go-to destination for holidaymakers from inland provinces, boasting pristine beaches, reliable infrastructure, and a variety of fun activities.
But fast forward to 2024, and things aren’t looking too bright. While 7.4 million tourists visited in 2015, the forecast for this year is just 800,000 – a far cry from the glory days. In terms of direct spend, things have dropped drastically, from R19.2 billion in 2015 to a measly R1.6 billion in 2024. Yikes!
One culprit? Those pesky beach closures due to high E.coli levels. While the beaches are back in action, the damage has been done, and fewer people are hitting the sand. Jace Govender from Lifesaving South Africa did point out that New Year’s Day usually sees a spike in beachgoers, but with the current trends, it’s hard to predict how much of a recovery Durban will see.
So, what’s the issue? Well, over the years, Durban has become less appealing to holidaymakers. Rising infrastructure issues, crumbling standards, and the closing of several top hotels and attractions have all contributed to the decline. In fact, many South Africans are choosing to head to the north or south coasts instead, and some are even skipping Durban altogether in favor of Cape Town – which, by the way, has seen an uptick in passenger numbers at its international airport.
Looks like Durban might need to pull up its socks if it wants to get back to its tourism glory days. Until then, it’s “catch you on the flip side” for the city’s beach resorts.
Source Info: https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/durban-tourism-on-the-decline/ar-AA1mauWW