Mayor Cyril Xaba sets ambitious goals to attract 60% more visitors this Easter, promising a vibrant holiday experience and significant economic benefits.
Image: Sipho Jack
Schools are out and the Easter holiday season is in, and it has the leadership at the eThekwini Municipality filled with anticipation, as their projections indicate that 1.2 million visitors are expected to visit the city, which will provide an estimated R2.6 billion injection into the local economy.
During a press briefing on Sunday to outline Durban's “state of readiness” for the Easter holidays, Mayor Cyril Xaba announced that the city aims to attract 60% more visitors during the upcoming Easter holidays than it did before the pandemic.
Xaba and his team’s optimism about visitor numbers stems from the already significant increase in visitor turnout for the current holiday season, which surpasses last year's statistics for this period.
To ensure an enjoyable experience, Xaba said greater attention and effort had been invested in safety, infrastructure, and enhanced marketing efforts, as part of the city's bid to revitalise Durban's tourism sector.
“We have seen a lot more visitor interest as compared to previous Easter holidays,” Xaba said.
Xaba also urged local stakeholders and businesses to collaborate in order to improve visitor numbers. He said Durban's tourism potential was immense.
“We see our city as having a competitive advantage; we compete with no one, not even Cape Town, which lacks the data that we have.”
He did acknowledge that while the city’s challenges in terms of service delivery and infrastructure issues persist, boosting tourism is an integral part of revenue generation, which can then be used to address some perennial concerns.
In affirming his call for a thriving tourism sector for the overall benefit of the city, Xaba said: “You must grow the economy to tackle the challenges you face.”
As part of the city's preparation for the Easter holidays, Xaba said comprehensive plans are in place to ensure the safety of the many local and international guests expected.
He said the multi-agency law enforcement task force is set to deploy over 1,000 police officers to maintain high visibility at hotspots, particularly on the roads, beaches, and entertainment venues around the city.
“Our goal is not just to attract visitors but to ensure they stay longer and spend their money here,” said Xaba, who also reiterated that Durban featured in Time Out’s 2026 Best Cities ranking, at position 14.
He expressed gratitude towards private sector collaborations that are further expanding tourism infrastructure in the city.
According to Xaba, some of the attractions and events visitors can anticipate include family-friendly programmes at local parks such as uShaka Marine World and the botanical gardens.
The ‘One Man Complex’ concert and Mandisi Dyantyis Symphonic Celebration, featuring several prominent artists, promise to be highlights of the festive period.
Apart from Easter attractions, Durban has plans to stage drawcard events throughout the year, including the Metro FM Music Awards and Africa’s Travel Indaba in May.
DAILY NEWS