Durban's tourism resurgence: 1.2 million visitors and R2.7 billion in spending hailed by Mayor Xaba

Durban recorded its strongest festive tourism performance in years, with visitor numbers, spending, and job creation all rising sharply during the 2025/2026 holiday period, signalling a decisive recovery for the city’s tourism sector.

Speaking at the Mayoral Tourism Editors’ Engagement Luncheon on Thursday, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the season marked a turning point after several difficult years for the city, particularly following infrastructure challenges and the devastating 2022 floods.

“Let me state without hesitation that this was the best festive season the City has experienced in many years,” Xaba said.

One of the most significant improvements was service stability. Xaba said that for the first time in five years, the city experienced a relatively stable water supply during the festive period, with disruptions largely confined to areas supplied by Pipeline 53 from Pietermaritzburg.

Beach safety also emerged as a major success. Xaba said all 23 bathing beaches were open and safe for swimming for the first time since the floods, although temporary closures were implemented when required to meet safety standards.

Between December 1 and January 12, Durban’s beaches attracted more than 6.8 million visitors, including swimmers and promenade users, while the city’s 43 municipal swimming pools recorded over 1.2 million bathers.

Dedicated lifeguards and emergency services were deployed throughout the festive season and responded to several rescues involving swimmers caught in difficult conditions. Xaba said their professionalism and vigilance ensured that incidents were managed effectively and lives were safeguarded.

Child safety interventions were also intensified. Beach guides issued 275,000 wristbands to children, and 1,855 children who were separated from their parents were reunited with their families within 24 hours.

To maintain cleanliness along the coastline, the municipality implemented a comprehensive waste management plan that included additional cleaning teams, structured shift systems, and roving units. Xaba said these measures ensured that Durban’s beaches remained clean, safe, and welcoming throughout the peak season.

Safety across the city was reinforced through an integrated law-enforcement plan involving SAPS, Metro Police, and private security companies. More than 2,000 officers were deployed for day- and night-time patrols on freeways, the beachfront, shopping centres, and identified crime hotspots, supported by a network of more than 500 CCTV cameras. Multidisciplinary roadblocks targeted reckless driving, unroadworthy vehicles, and drinking and driving.

The improved operational environment translated into strong economic returns. Preliminary figures show that Durban welcomed close to 1.2 million visitors, up from 998,000 in 2024, representing a 19% increase. Accommodation occupancy rose to 77% from 72% the previous year.

Direct tourism spend increased from R2.2 billion to R2.7 billion, a growth of 24%, while the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product climbed to R9.6 billion. According to the municipality, tourism supported more than 14,000 job opportunities during the period.

“These figures reaffirm tourism as a key driver of our local economy,” Xaba said.

The city is now aiming to sustain this momentum through a packed events and development calendar for 2026. Plans include the unveiling of large statues of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, which the municipality says will enhance Durban’s cultural and heritage tourism offering.

Durban will also host the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open professional golf tournament in February, the Metro FM Music Awards from April as a three-year host city, and the launch of a new airline route between King Shaka International Airport and Reunion Island, with the inaugural flight scheduled for 27 February.

International concerts by Anthony Hamilton, Bryan Adams, and UB40 featuring Ali Campbell are expected to further boost visitor numbers, alongside major annual events such as the Comrades Marathon, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, the Durban International Marathon, and the Durban International Film Festival.

Xaba called on the media to continue working closely with the municipality to support the sector’s growth.

“Our shared objective is to drive a positive and accurate narrative about Durban’s tourism sector,” he said, adding that the city believes it can tell “a compelling story that reflects Durban’s resilience, growth, and success.”

He said the municipality’s goal was not only to see tourism recover fully but to exceed pre-Covid-19 levels in the years ahead.

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