EThekwini Municipality has invested R33 million to maintain eThekwini’s beachfront, a prime tourist attraction that has kept the City as the number one domestic tourist destination. The project seeks to develop and maintain the beachfront as a key asset that contributes significantly to the local tourism sector, job creation and the economy.
This was revealed by Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda as he welcomed tourists to Durban ahead of the Easter holidays.
“The City has invested millions of rand in the facility to ensure that we have a world class recreational facility for people to enjoy when they visit Durban,” he said. “As the City, we are reinvesting in our beachfront and inner city to welcome visitors and tourists to a well maintained, attractive and safe beachfront. The investment in the beachfront and inner city aligns with the Economic Recovery Plan which focuses on reinvigorating the domestic tourism sector, which was highly impacted during the hard lockdown.”
The Beachfront Public Space Management project will augment the good work currently being done by the Municipality’s Parks and Cleaning and Solid Waste units on the beachfront. The project will also ensure that the beachfront is kept in good condition throughout the year while creating employment and skills development for 95 people. The project, which is valued at over R33 million for a period of three years, includes carrying out maintenance in landscaping, irrigation, coastal dune maintenance, beachfront fencing maintenance and sand drift removal of the promenade.
Mayor Kaunda explained: “Last year, 12 beaches within the eThekwini Municipality were awarded the National Blue Flag status. This initiative will ensure that our beaches maintain their Blue Flag status. It will also assist us to keep our environment clean. The Public Space Management project will encourage and attract domestic and international visitors to the City’s biggest tourist attraction.”
In terms of the Socio-economic impact of the Easter holidays, the occupancy rates were estimated to be around 55 percent. About 42 000 visitors were expected with a direct projected spend of R61 million. It was expected that there would be a R151 million contribution to the GDP with 325 employment opportunities created over the Easter weekend.