KwaZulu Natal is predicting a 33% increase in tourism numbers over the high season, with average accommodation occupancy rates of 69% and visitor numbers of 845 000, bringing in R3.6 billion (€175m) in revenue.
The province, which remains the top domestic tourism destination in South Africa, anticipates that 52 000 international tourists will make up the overall arrivals over the December and January high season.
These projections, which comfortably surpass the 571 000 arrivals and R2.4bn (€117m) recorded over the high season in 2021/22, were revealed at the launch of Tourism KZN’s Summer Season Campaign on November 24, at the Mpenjati Nature Reserve in the province’s Ugu District.
Thandeka Ellenson, Acting Head of KZN’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, said: “I am pleased to note that the total number of international tourists to our beautiful province has risen by 22% in the first six months of 2023 compared with the same…