Berg to beach: KwaZulu-Natal gears up for R13 billion festive tourism boom

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is ready to welcome festive season holiday-makers, offering a vibrant and secure environment for visitors.

This assurance comes from the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTFA), which recently launched a multidisciplinary safety activation campaign at Estcourt Ultra City on the N3 in the Uthukela District.

The N3 serves as a crucial gateway to KZN, connecting the Free State and Gauteng to Durban, a popular holiday destination.

As the province gears up for an influx of travellers, the campaign is part of KZN’s broader festive season programme, which anticipates between 1 and 1.1 million domestic trips and 34,000 international arrivals in December alone, contributing an estimated R13 billion to the tourism sector.

According to Pinky Radebe, head of PR & Communications at KZNTFA, additional provincial travel indicators support this optimistic outlook.

“Research shows that December and January are South Africa’s peak travel months, with KwaZulu-Natal consistently capturing a significant share of this movement. Predictions indicate that between January and June 2026, the province will record 4.3 million domestic trips and 387,155 international arrivals, contributing a combined R13.4 billion in visitor spend.”

Forward bookings reflect this positive trend, with non-hotel accommodation occupancy rates rising across municipalities. Durban is already tracking above 70% occupancy for the festive peak, bolstered by a robust cruise schedule that expects 66 ships and approximately 110,994 passengers to dock in Durban between November and June.

Radebe noted that district-level travel patterns further reinforce this optimistic outlook.

Non-hotel accommodation occupancy is trending upwards across municipalities, with peak demand anticipated during the Christmas and New Year period.

“While Durban is already tracking above 70% occupancies, districts such as the North Coast, Midlands, Drakensberg, and the South Coast are also reporting strong bookings, indicating broad-based festive movement across KwaZulu-Natal.”

Underlying booking data shows a clear rise in occupancy beginning in mid-December, with municipalities like uMkhanyakude, iLembe, and Ugu already indicating occupancy levels above 80% for the peak Christmas and New Year period.

Radebe added, “Domestic arrivals are expected to increase compared to last year, driven by KwaZulu-Natal’s strong performance in the first half of 2025, while international arrivals may reflect a slight decline due to softer airline bookings.

"However, we are confident that KZN will continue to attract high volumes of holiday-makers, even as global air-booking patterns shift.”

Most domestic visitors are expected to come from within the province and Gauteng, while international visitors will largely be from neighbouring countries such as eSwatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Lesotho, as well as long-haul travellers from the USA, UK, and Germany.

These indicators underscore the importance of coordinated and responsive readiness measures across the province.

In terms of hotel occupancy, Gary Foster, general manager of Champagne Sports Resort, noted stronger demand this year, with early December bookings showing an uptick compared to previous years.

“We have our usual strong Christmas and New Year bookings, and early January is also looking positive. Our occupancies are primarily driven by domestic families, many of whom are loyal return guests at this time of year.

"While we have very few international guests in December, we would love to see more of them in our area,” he said.

The N3 Toll Concession connects KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Gauteng, linking the Drakensberg Region to the coast in Durban.

Foster observed that demand is focused on families from Johannesburg and KZN.

“One trend we have noticed over the years is the increasing demand for adventure activities and the growing use of our onsite facilities, particularly our golf course. Padel and Pickleball are also gaining popularity and becoming standard across these areas,” he added.

Foster highlighted the unique charm and character of each area in the Drakensberg, making it appealing for summer visitors.

On the coast, Nombuso Ngubane, acting marketing manager for the Natal Sharks Board, assured that their systems are in place to provide bather protection along the KZN coast, from Richards Bay to Port Edward.

She confirmed that their shark safety gear is up to standard for the festive season and is regularly maintained and checked.

“This festive season, we guarantee our visitors that we will prioritise our operations, ensuring that shark nets are in place,” said Ngubane.

She emphasised the importance of bathers knowing which beaches are safe for swimming, which can be verified by the presence of lifeguards.

Additionally, notice boards are available to confirm whether the area is protected by the Sharks Board.

Thandeka Magomola from uShaka Marine World PR and events stated that the marine park is fully operational and has extended its hours for the festive season.

“There is no way you can be in Durban or KZN without visiting uShaka Marine World. There’s so much more to experience at the park. We’ve got something for everyone,” she said.

This festive season, KwaZulu-Natal is poised to offer holiday-makers a memorable experience filled with fun, safety, and adventure, making it a top destination for both domestic and international travellers.