Summer holidays in KZN: Province gears up for bumper festive season

KwaZulu-Natal is preparing for a vibrant and economically significant festive season, with eThekwini Municipality expecting more than 1.3 million visitors to flock to Durban over the summer holidays.

Thembo Ntuli, chairperson of the City’s economic development and planning committee, this week said the city’s “Summer Season” campaign invites the world to experience Durban’s unique mix of culture, beaches, and hospitality.

“We are expecting about 1.3 million visitors to the City this festive season, a powerful boost for the local economy. Their spending is projected to inject over R341 million in direct impact and a total of R845m to the City’s GDP," Ntuli said.

"This influx will help create more than 15 000 jobs and generate over R630m in taxes, clear proof of how tourism drives growth and opportunity for residents.”

Ntuli said eThekwini continues to attract both domestic and international visitors, with 186 000 new international arrivals and 2.8 million domestic trips recorded earlier this year — contributing nearly R5 billion to the local economy.

He added that several catalytic projects are strengthening the city’s tourism infrastructure and long-term growth potential.

Among the highlights is the renewal of Durban’s hosting rights for Africa’s Travel Indaba until 2030, reaffirming its status as one of Africa’s leading tourism and business events destinations.

The 2025/26 cruise season is also set to boost the sector, kicking off in November with luxury liners such as the MSC Opera and Ryndam Europa scheduled to dock in Durban.

Ntuli added that there will also be tourism engagements taking place in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, which seek to position Durban as a destination of choice, ensuring the story of tranquillity and diversity reaches far and wide.

Brett Tungay, national chairperson of Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), said the outlook for the December holiday period is positive.

“The domestic market is always strong over December, irrespective of what is happening economically – which is a good thing for the industry,” Tungay said.

“Hopefully, the weather plays along, but it should! So yes, a good December is coming up. I’m optimistic. We may not break any records, but we should see growth over December 2024.”

Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTAFA) has launched the 2025 Film Season, a two-month celebration of local creativity, enterprise, and storytelling running through October and November.

The initiative represents an investment of over R2.5m through KZNTAFA’s Markets and Festivals Support Programme, aimed at strengthening the province’s film ecosystem through financial, technical, and capacity-building support.

KZN Tourism and Film Interim CEO, Sibusiso Gumbi, said film remains a powerful economic driver for the province.

“Through the film season, we’re deliberately connecting local creativity to business opportunities. These district festivals bring film to where people live, while our international partnerships take KwaZulu-Natal stories to the world," Gumbi said.

"Together, they build a sustainable film ecosystem that supports SMMEs, inspires youth, and strengthens our province’s global identity.”

Naomi Crous, Umhlanga Tourism Chairperson, said optimism is high among hospitality operators ahead of the summer rush.

“Umhlanga is already seeing strong bookings, and the enthusiasm from visitors is very encouraging. The eThekwini summer campaign has helped shine a light on everything our region has to offer — from our beaches and outdoor lifestyle to our restaurants and family-friendly attractions," Crous said.

BUSINESS REPORT