Sharks take plunge for tourism

File photo: 'The Sharks provide the city of Durban with an exciting drawcard to attract visitors.'

File photo: 'The Sharks provide the city of Durban with an exciting drawcard to attract visitors.'

Published Oct 22, 2014

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Durban - The eThekwini municipality will form a partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union (Sharks) to promote Durban as an international tourist destination.

A report tabled before the executive committee during a meeting at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday stated that the partnership would provide a platform through which Durban Tourism could engage with and promote the Durban experience to potential international visitors.

City manager Sbu Sithole said the Sharks were one of the world’s most successful rugby franchises and over the years the rugby union and city had built their brand and images around similar core values.

Sithole said it was time for the two to come together to promote the city on an international platform, while the Sharks continued their strong performances in the Super 15, the toughest rugby franchise tournament in the southern hemisphere.

“The Sharks provide the city with an exciting drawcard to attract visitors,” he said.

Sithole said the city and the Sharks also wanted to put in a bid to host the match between the Springboks and the All Blacks in August next year.

With the Sharks being a well-managed franchise, Sithole said, the Sharks offered the city partnership rights and benefits including official destination rights, exclusive media rights across all platforms, and branding rights.

“We currently do not have the financial implications of this partnership, but I will report back to the committee once we have the costs,” he said.

DA councillor Heinz de Boer said the partnership was a “very positive” one.

The eThekwini Speaker, Logie Naidoo, said it had taken some time to get the Sharks on their side and he welcomed the partnership.

Mayor James Nxumalo said: “It will be a good thing if they (the Sharks) can one day play at this stadium (Moses Mabhida).”

The Mercury

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