ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH

24 JULY 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE ROAD TO THE DURBAN’S VIRTUAL JULY EXPERIENCE UNDERWAY

The City of eThekwini is pulling all stops to give fans of the annual Vodacom Durban July (VDJ), a virtual experience of a lifetime as festivities building up to this weekend’s spectacular are all set. The VDJ takes place tomorrow, 25 July at Greyville Racecourse, and the line-up of activities is set to capture the spirit of Africa’s biggest and most prestigious horse racing and lifestyle showcase, albeit in a virtual setting.

The VDJ event to be hosted behind closed doors will be streamed live on several digital platforms, with the main activities being broadcast live on DSTV’s SupersSport 4 and 10 channels from 13h00. Themed “Butterflies”, the event is set to be a creative stage and blow away the viewers at home with entertainment as well as latest trends that will be showcased during the fashion shows.

In a bid to keep the VDJ light burning and tourism industry alive, the City began staging virtual lifestyle and entertainment activations last week at some of its main attractions and ‘hottest’ spots.

The activations kicked off with a Destination Fashion shoot at the Beachfront Promenade on 16 July which captured the work of local fashion designers posing with Saint Phillip horse. The other photoshoots will run until 27 July and one of the venues will be at Max’s Lifestyle Village in Umlazi showcasing the culinary experience and overall ambiance. This will be continuing to showcase the Durban’s Virtual Experience as part of promoting Durban destination and local brands during and beyond the July.

Mayor of eThekwini, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said: “This pandemic has caused massive damage to the tourism industry globally and has decimated the aviation sector. However, instead of wallowing in despondency and lamenting our fate, we decided as the City to come up with this innovative way to celebrate the Vodacom Durban July virtually as we are expecting not less than R23 million to our gross domestic product.”
Most importantly, the Mayor said, we want to ensure that our destination remains top of mind of tourists as these activities will be strategically reminding people of what they are missing so that once life has returned to normal, they will visit our destination. “Even those who have never been to Durban or VDJ event will be eager to explore.”

The Durban’s Virtual July Experience weekend line-up will kick-off today, 24 July with a pre-party to be aired on Channel O, DSTV channel 320. Fact Durban Rocks live music showcase afterparty will also be shown on Channel O on 25 July. The Durban July Township Experience streamed lived from KwaMashu’s Artizen, uMlazi’s Eyadini, Mashamplane and Mojos both situated in Chesterville as well as Coastal Lounge in uMgababa will be broadcast on 26 July at channel 322, MTV Base. The Mother of All Parties that is hosted by DJ’s United will be streamed digitally on Friday 31 July via Durban Tourism social media platforms.

Mayor Kaunda said: “Working with all these local tourism establishments was crucial in a bid to ease the financial burden brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, the City has collaborated with our partners to put together a sizzling line-up of digital showcase with the likes of T’zozo, Lvovo, Babes Wodumo, Tipcee and DJ Chynaman set to keep virtual visitors on their feet in the comfort of their homes through pre and after parties.”

He added that the concept is not just about the VDJ but more about profiling the destination on television as all these attractions and sub-sectors will receive maximum exposure. “Returns may not be immediate but we are certain that in the near future this will be a positive boost for local tourism.”

Follow the Durban’s Virtual July Experience on twitter @dbntourism and on Facebook @DBNTourism and Instagram @dbntourism and also on www.visitdurban.travel

For detailed Durban’s Virtual July Experience Events Calendar, kindly follow the below link:
https://durban-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/mpho_mbuli_durban_gov_za/ET89hA5knvtMtRRojdBXUa4B0y-s6bJhA-4MygDgm4BOnw?e=QLuOdZ

ENDS

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit. For media enquiries contact Municipality’s Spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220