With the occupation certificate now issued, Club Med’s operational teams are already established on site and have commenced preparations, including staff onboarding and training, ahead of a phased soft launch.
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The opening of the Club Med Resort could serve as a catalyst to attract more European tourists to KwaZulu-Natal and promote luxury development along the North Coast. The resort, located in Tinley Manor in the KwaDukuza Municipality, is set to open its doors to tourists on July 4.
Tourism experts said the opening of the development is likely to be of huge benefit to the province in two ways: by attracting the much-needed numbers of European tourists and encouraging other developments along the North Coast. The eThekwini Municipality has previously reported low international visitor numbers, making the issue of international tourism particularly welcome.
Brett Tungay from the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa stated that once the facility opens in a few weeks, there will be increased foot traffic and more business in the area. However, the real boom will be in investment and tourist numbers.
“The opening of this Club Med is likely to give the province more exposure to European tourism, as that is where the club predominantly operates. Furthermore, we have observed that each time a club opens in an area, it tends to attract more development, which is very good for the North Coast. The North Coast has beautiful beaches that could attract further investments,” he said.
The Club Med South Africa was built at an estimated cost of over R2 billion. It will create more than 800 direct jobs and 1,500 indirect jobs, having already employed 1,500 construction workers, most of whom are from the neighbouring community.
Last week, the KwaDukuza Municipality handed the resort its certificate of occupation. The handing over of the certificate signals that the 54,000 square metre resort, which comprises 64 buildings, is ready to start operating.
A joint statement by the municipality and other stakeholders stated that the resort is ready to operate. It said with the occupation certificate now issued, Club Med’s operational teams are already established on site and have commenced preparations, including staff onboarding and training, ahead of a phased soft launch, the municipality said in a statement.
“The occupation certificate follows an extensive regulatory and compliance process involving the submission, review, and approval of a substantial volume of documentation over time,” it said.
Developer Murray Collins, representing Collins Residential, described the milestone as both long-awaited and deeply significant for the region. “It is a very special day to receive our occupation certificate. We’re incredibly excited about what this means not only for KwaZulu-Natal and the North Coast but for South Africa as a whole; from tourism growth and job creation to truly putting this destination on the global map. It’s been a long time coming, and we’re proud to see the world represented here on the North Coast,” Collins said.
Chris du Toit, Project Lead for Club Med South Africa, emphasised the strength of the partnership that enabled the project’s delivery. “It’s a fantastic day for us to welcome KwaDukuza Municipality to the site for the official handover of the occupation certificate. This has been a truly collaborative journey. From the early days of design, the municipality consistently dedicated teams to work alongside us, engaging on a weekly and even daily basis to ensure approvals and sign-offs were achieved.
“Today is not only about completing the resort but also about recognising the broader impact this development will have on job creation and long-term economic benefits for surrounding communities,” Du Toit said.
KwaDukuza Municipality Mayor, Siduduzo Gumede, highlighted the broader significance of the development for the region, saying, “This is a significant investment for our area, being the first of its kind, and we are grateful to the investors. Through this development, jobs have been created, and we are confident that tourism in this region will grow meaningfully. This is a project of high international standard, and we believe it will help improve the lives of our people in KwaDukuza.”