Tourism bonanza hits Durban
8 May 2009, 09:37
By Suren Naidoo
Durban is in the midst of a tourism bonanza extending from the string of public holidays in April to the current Indian Premier League cricket tournament, the five-day Tourism Indaba and the upcoming Comrades Marathon and British & Irish Lions Tour of SA.
More than 13 000 delegates are expected for Indaba
Africa's biggest travel trade show - which will officially open tomorrow at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
Major hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments in the city are fully booked.
The IPL was forced not to schedule matches in Durban over the next week because of Indaba. Together, the two events have resulted in the city crawling with local and international tourists, including several sports and Bollywood stars.
Also clashing with Indaba again this year is the Super 14 match between the Sharks and the Sydney-based Waratahs. A capacity crowd is expected for the game at the Absa Stadium tomorrow.
Acting Durban Tourism boss Perry Moodley said the
events would affect the city's economy significantly.
"The Southern African tourism and hospitality industry, together with destination marketing organisations such as Durban Tourism, Tourism KZN and SA Tourism, are going all-out this year at Indaba as our marketing for the 2010 Fifa World Cup goes into overdrive.
"More money is being pumped into Indaba this year than ever before. Our joint city/province stand along this year - dramatically modelled to resemble Durban's iconic new Moses Mabhida Stadium - is more than double what was spent on the stand last year.
"Ehxibitors and industry buyers seem to be spending more, which is also reflected in the fact that we are set to host the most delegates ever for Indaba. This will include an unprecedented 600 journalists, more than 200 of the from overseas," he said.
"IPL organisers say their event will result in a R2-billion spin-off for South Africa and Durban is set to get a major share of that with the city hosting most of the matches (16). Durban and KZN are South Africa's leading domestic tourism destinations so, with all the holidays in April, Indaba, the Comrades later this month and the first Test of the big British & Irish Lions Tour kicking off in Durban in June, our local economic impact figure of R1-billion is conservative."
Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Gugu Mazibuko agreed, saying that while the holidays and long weekends in April might have negatively impacted on other businesses, they had been a boon for the tourism and hospitality industries.
"Indaba gets bigger every year and, from the signs of things, this is set to be the biggest Indaba yet.
"It is fantastic for South Africa and is a clear statement about the excitement around 2010," said Gerhard Patzer, general manager of the Hilton hotel and chairman of Fedhasa East Coast.
Durban is in the midst of a tourism bonanza extending from the string of public holidays in April to the current Indian Premier League cricket tournament, the five-day Tourism Indaba and the upcoming Comrades Marathon and British & Irish Lions Tour of SA.
More than 13 000 delegates are expected for Indaba
Africa's biggest travel trade show - which will officially open tomorrow at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
Major hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments in the city are fully booked.
The IPL was forced not to schedule matches in Durban over the next week because of Indaba. Together, the two events have resulted in the city crawling with local and international tourists, including several sports and Bollywood stars.
Also clashing with Indaba again this year is the Super 14 match between the Sharks and the Sydney-based Waratahs. A capacity crowd is expected for the game at the Absa Stadium tomorrow.
Acting Durban Tourism boss Perry Moodley said the
events would affect the city's economy significantly.
"The Southern African tourism and hospitality industry, together with destination marketing organisations such as Durban Tourism, Tourism KZN and SA Tourism, are going all-out this year at Indaba as our marketing for the 2010 Fifa World Cup goes into overdrive.
"More money is being pumped into Indaba this year than ever before. Our joint city/province stand along this year - dramatically modelled to resemble Durban's iconic new Moses Mabhida Stadium - is more than double what was spent on the stand last year.
"Ehxibitors and industry buyers seem to be spending more, which is also reflected in the fact that we are set to host the most delegates ever for Indaba. This will include an unprecedented 600 journalists, more than 200 of the from overseas," he said.
"IPL organisers say their event will result in a R2-billion spin-off for South Africa and Durban is set to get a major share of that with the city hosting most of the matches (16). Durban and KZN are South Africa's leading domestic tourism destinations so, with all the holidays in April, Indaba, the Comrades later this month and the first Test of the big British & Irish Lions Tour kicking off in Durban in June, our local economic impact figure of R1-billion is conservative."
Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Gugu Mazibuko agreed, saying that while the holidays and long weekends in April might have negatively impacted on other businesses, they had been a boon for the tourism and hospitality industries.
"Indaba gets bigger every year and, from the signs of things, this is set to be the biggest Indaba yet.
"It is fantastic for South Africa and is a clear statement about the excitement around 2010," said Gerhard Patzer, general manager of the Hilton hotel and chairman of Fedhasa East Coast.
- This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on May 08, 2009
Pretoria
