Date: 2025-09-30 06:54:37

Mayor Xaba Reinforces Partnership with The Tourism Sector

Mayor Xaba Reinforces Partnership With The Tourism Sector

ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

4 SEPTEMBER 2025  

Stakeholders from Durban’s vibrant tourism industry expressed their enthusiasm, following a productive engagement session with eThekwini Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba and City leadership. 

The Mayoral Tourism Trade Stakeholder engagement took place earlier at the Southern Sun Elangeni and Maharani Hotel.

The Mayor met with over 90 representatives from various sectors of the tourism industry, including businesses, the private sector, associations, and key trade stakeholders. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss sector development, address existing challenges, promote new programmes, and gather valuable feedback. The engagement aimed to strengthen partnerships, engage on discussions of how to boost the local economy, create job opportunities, and enhance the tourist experience by fostering collaboration between government and the private sector.

Mayor Xaba said it was fitting that the engagement took place during Tourism Month, a period dedicated to highlighting the sector’s vital role in South Africa’s economy.

“The engagement, themed: ‘Collectively taking Durban tourism to greater heights,’ is a call for us all to strengthen the partnerships that exist between government and the private sector, with the ultimate goal of unlocking growth opportunities within our tourism ecosystem,” said Mayor Xaba.

He assured industry stakeholders that the City leadership remains committed to working collaboratively with the sector to develop a comprehensive roadmap that promotes a tourism industry capable of creating jobs, empowering communities, and benefiting residents.

During the engagement, some major announcements were also made by eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele, including:

Tourist Safety Tech Boost - A new mobile app that will soon connect and activate security establishments within a 500-metre radius, providing tourists with enhanced peace of mind during their visit to Durban.

Sports Tourism Drive - The City is in talks with COSAFA Games and the American Homecoming Programme to host activities throughout an entire month during the tournament, positioning Durban as a premier hub for sports tourism.

Expanding Connectivity - Durban is exploring plans for a second airport on the South Coast, a move that aims to significantly improve accessibility and foster regional tourism growth.

Additionally, Durban has launched South Africa’s first dedicated Coastal and Tourism Policing Unit, responsible for patrolling 100 kilometres of coastline. This pioneering initiative forms part of a broader safety strategy to ensure residents and visitors enjoy secure beaches. The goal is to sustain and strengthen this unit, setting a national benchmark for beach and tourism safety.

Mbhele also shared his excitement over recent positive figures released by South African Tourism, which showed continued growth for the sector. 

“International arrivals increased to 186 000 between January and May this year, while domestic tourists rose to 2.8 million, compared to the same period last year,” Mbhele stated. 

“These numbers reaffirm Durban’s status as a compelling destination for both domestic and international travellers, thanks to our unique blend of nature, culture, and history.”

He highlighted successful collaborative projects that have already begun to shape Durban’s future, including the Beachwood Development, Sibaya Precinct, and Oceans South Residential Tower, which hold immense potential to attract visitors and investments.

“The regeneration of Durban’s Inner City is gaining momentum, with 47 of 120 derelict buildings already addressed, leading to renewed business confidence and transforming spaces into vibrant hubs of activity,” Mbhele added.

Participants also applauded the efforts of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG), established in April 2024. The PeWG’s mission is to tackle critical challenges faced by the Municipality, such as service delivery, infrastructure decay, business confidence, and socio-economic struggles, through a coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach.  

Chairperson of the Economic Development and Planning Committee, Councillor Thembo Ntuli, emphasised that the tourism stakeholder engagement breakfast is rooted in a clear vision championed by the Mayor.

“It’s about working together to promote Durban as a destination of choice and to develop it sustainably,” he said. 

“This initiative aligns with our ongoing efforts to revitalise tourism through promotion, infrastructure updates, maintenance, and strategic resource allocation.”

Mbhele also urged sector representatives to participate in the upcoming reSURGEnce Conference, scheduled to take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, from 20 to 24 September 2025. He highlighted that tourism discussions will be central to the event, which will host over 150 delegates from various countries, including key participants from the United States.

“This is a vital opportunity to foster meaningful collaborations that will propel our sector to new heights,” Mbhele concluded.

Samantha Croft, Chairperson of the Tourism Committee Group for the Durban Chamber of Commerce and also serving as the Operations Director for the KwaZulu-Natal Region of the Southern Sun hotel group, said the engagement with the Mayor was highly informative, it provided a platform for trade to engage directly with the City.

ENDS