The KwaZulu-Natal government has forecast a huge drop in tourism with more than R4 billion in expected economic losses for the province in 2020.
KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala said at a media briefing yesterday that the province anticipated a double digit decline in the number of visitor trips and tourism spend.
“We expect about a 62% decline in domestic tourism in 2020 compared to 2019. This is about 2.3 million trips in 2020 versus 6.2 million trips in 2019. The estimated spend will be R3.6 billion compared with R8 billion in 2019. The tourism sector is expected to recover to 2019 levels by 2022/23,” Zikalala said.
Numerically, in 2019 there were about 815 000 domestic visitors in the December 2019-January 2020 period.
“We are expecting 750 000 domestic visitors in December 2020 to January 2021,” he said.
Tourism KZN is running an aggressive destination marketing campaign, which began when intra-provincial travel was allowed, and enhanced when inter-provincial travel was opened up on lockdown level 1.
We say “Wozani namukelekile KwaZulu-Natal”… You will be safe, but we are urging you to please comply with Covid-19 regulations for your own safety, and the safety of those around you,“ Zikalala said.
Meanwhile, more than a dozen KZN beaches were recently awarded Blue Flag Status.
“We are extremely pleased to note that a total of 14 KwaZulu-Natal beaches have been awarded the internationally recognised Blue Flag status. The Blue Flag status recognises beaches with good water quality, facilities, and safety,“ he said.
The beaches include: Durban North, Point, uShaka, Amanzimtoti, Umhlanga Main, Blythedale, Salt Rock, Willard, Tinley Manor Beach, The Marine, Trafalgar, Southport, Umzumbe and Hibberdene.