KwaZulu-Natal tourism sees R5 billion boost from visitor spending this season

The sun-soaked shores and majestic mountains of KwaZulu-Natal have proven irresistible for tourists, as they all contributed to the province's metropolitan areas raking in an economic spike of over R5 billion from visitor spending this season. 

2025 has been a good year for tourism in KZN, and once again, Durban stood out as the hotspot.

Between January and May alone, the coastal city was home to a massive 2.8 million domestic trips alongside 186,000 international arrivals.

KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, the entity tasked with promoting the province's attractions, expects the North Coast, South Coast, Midlands, and Drakensberg to also attract big visitor numbers over the holiday season.

Pinky Radebe, the agency’s Head of PR and Communications, said the promising trajectory of visitor numbers for 2025 made them hopeful about the future.

“These numbers not only display the vibrancy of our tourism sector but also give us confidence in the anticipated growth moving forward,” she stated. Radebe said December and January were South Africa’s prime travel periods, and KZN consistently captures a significant share of the tourism flow.

"Expectations are set high, predicting 4.3 million domestic trips and 387,155 international visitors in the first half of 2026, with a total anticipated visitor spend of R13.4 billion."

The upward trend in travel indicators was highlighted by increasing occupancy rates across various accommodation types.

“Non-hotel accommodation is seeing a remarkable rise, with Durban currently tracking above 70 percent occupancy for the festive peak,” Radebe said.

The festive season will additionally be buoyed by a strong cruise schedule, with 66 ships and around 110,994 passengers expected to dock in Durban until June.

Radebe said this movement will not only enhance the tourism experience but also boost local businesses and services throughout the region.

“We are seeing a clear rise in occupancy beginning in mid-December,” Radebe said.

Municipalities such as uMkhanyakude, iLembe, and Ugu were already witnessing occupancy levels above 80 percent during the peak Christmas and New Year period.

Looking ahead, Radebe estimated an increase in domestic arrivals compared to the prior year, while international arrivals may see a slight dip owing to softer airline booking patterns.

“KZN is expected to remain a favourite among holidaymakers, drawing a significant portion of its domestic visitors from Gauteng, while international tourists are likely to come from neighbouring markets like eSwatini, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Lesotho, as well as long-haul visitors from the USA, UK, and Germany,” she said.

DAILY NEWS