Durban ready to rake in billions from holidaymakers

Holidaymakers are expected to spend at least R5-billion in Durban this festive season.

The city's head of tourism, Philip Sithole, yesterday said about 1.2 million visitors were expected to hit the east coast from today.

The traditional four-week holiday has now been extended to six weeks, with the first holidaymakers from the Free State and Gauteng expected to arrive today.

"Once schools close, self-employed parents, particularly farmers, arrive in Durban for a long holiday. The middle class are still at work, so they will only arrive after December 15," Sithole said.

But, he explained, the challenge was getting the middle class to stay longer in the city.

"Durban has over-marketed the beach. So now some visitors just stay for three days to visit the beach. We have to get the message across that there is more to Durban than the beach," he said.

Sithole wants the city to be marketed as a package, including township tours.

"Previously, when we marketed Durban, we did not mention the township experience," he said.

Sithole said the city also failed to promote its rich cultural heritage.

"When we have tourists, they go mainly to the coastal parts of Durban. They don't have people spending a day in the city centre."

He said Durban was like any other city in the world .

"If you travel to any city in the world, there are tips to keep safe. If you expose something that a robber wants, he is going to try to get it from you, irrespective of which city you are in. Follow the tips and you will be safe," he said.

He said the number of visitors taking the Inanda heritage route has grown to 22 000 a year .

"But 60% of the visitors on that route are international tourists, mostly history students, academics and diplomats. We want to promote this route so South Africans are also able to appreciate the history," he said.