By Xoliswa Zulu & Bonny Verwey
Vehicles making their way to KwaZulu-Natal at the rate of 1 500 an hour on Thursday confirmed that the province is the destination of choice for local and foreign tourists in South Africa.
Tourism KZN expects two million tourists will make KZN their temporary home this holiday season.
Spokesperson Phindile Makwakwa said she was confident the province would perform
better economically than it did last year.
| 'We have seen an increase in spending' |
"A marketing campaign showed that there is a greater awareness of our province and tourists know that they will receive a unique experience," she said.
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Makwakwa said the province estimated that the direct spend of tourists would be about R3-billion and the total economic impact was expected to be R4,3-billion.
Hotels and resorts, especially on the South Coast, were 100 percent full. Retailers are smiling from ear to ear, with some malls saying there has been an increase in foot and vehicular traffic.
Gateway Theatre of Shopping Centre manager Lisa Sukdev said the recent wet weather had resulted in a big increase in foot traffic, exceeding that of 2004.
"We are doing phenomenally. Because of the bad weather of late, we have seen a 10,5 percent increase in foot traffic and 11,7 percent increase in vehicle traffic."
| Weather is expected to put a damper on all the festive cheer |
"The extended shopping hours have allowed people to take their time and shop at their convenience. Retailers are smiling."
Sukdev said a number of stores will be open on Christmas Day.
Musgrave Centre manager Cassandra Stephens said the mall was trading better than last year due to an extensive advertising campaign. Woolworths chief executive officer Simon Susman said the Christmas trading period was critical for all retailers.
"We expect customers to be spending better than last year, but by how much, only the last week of this year will tell us."
Game managing director Fanus Nothnagel said shoppers had been flooding to stores around the country to purchase last-minute gifts.
"We have seen an increase in spending in comparison to previous years."
Most retail stores, shopping centres and restaurants are opting to rest on Christmas and New Year's days, and customers are advised to phone the relevant outlets before venturing out.
However, Sibaya Casino, Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World and uShaka Marine World will open every day with all their tenants trading.
Among the province's attractions are the New Year's Eve bashes which, in Durban this year, will see fireworks displays being laid on in townships for the first time.
The King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu and Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont will be spoiling revellers with some of the finest DJs in Durban, local artists and dancers, and entertainment from the townships.
South Coast towns will also be holding their famous New Year's Eve parties, with Margate expecting to entertain a huge crowd with a fireworks display, beer gardens and DJs.
The bash on Port Edward's Silver Beach will see see a DJ playing a variety of music. Southbroom Beach will also be counting down the hours to 2006 with good cheer and celebration.
Suncoast Casino's Coast to Coast New Year's Eve party is also expected to attract a huge festive crowd.
However, the weather is expected to put a damper on all the festive cheer, with evening showers and storms expected throughout the weekend. According to the Durban weather office, Saturday and Sunday's weather will be miserable.
The weather will be partly cloudy, with showers and storms and a 60 percent chance of rain.
Meanwhile, in an effort to avoid a repeat of last weekend's spate of drownings, Durban has beefed up night patrols to remove bathers from the surf and has also extended patrolling hours.
Metro police, together with the SA Police Service and Marine Safety will patrol the beaches at night.
"If bathers don't adhere to the warnings they will be forcefully removed and will be arrested for contravening seashore regulations for bathing while intoxicated and in a prohibited area," said Christo Swart, deputy head of parks, leisure and cemeteries.
"We want to make this a safe holiday for all our visitors and therefore appeal to bathers to co-operate with us."
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on December 23, 2005
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