Cape Dreams News from in and around the Cape
30 November 2025 — KwaZulu-Natal is preparing to host its most significant summer tourism season since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with provincial forecasts predicting between 1 and 1.1 million domestic trips and 34,000 international arrivals in December alone.
This increase is likely to generate R13 billion in tourism-related spending, including a direct contribution of R1.3 billion to GDP and an estimated total economic impact of R3.8 billion.
“This year, the numbers are compelling,” said KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Reverend Musa Zondi.
“Between January and May, Durban alone recorded over 2.8 million domestic trips and 186,000 international visitors, injecting more than R5 billion into the local economy. We are now expecting over 1.3 million visitors in Durban this festive season – and even more across uMhlathuze, iLembe, uMgungundlovu, Harry Gwala, and the South Coast”.
The province’s summer tourism launch was celebrated at La Clef Boutique Hotel in the Midlands, with a strong turnout of tourism industry stakeholders, media, influencers, district champions, and government leaders.
KwaZulu-Natal’s strong positioning this season reflects national recovery patterns. According to the MEC, South Africa recorded 8.92 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, a 5.1% increase from the previous year. “And in the second quarter of 2025 alone, arrivals surged by 15.6%, with much of that growth coming from SADC neighbours,” Zondi said.
The growth of cruise tourism additionally supports the recovery. The 2025/26 cruise season officially opened in November, with Durban port expected to host 66 cruise ship arrivals until June 2026. These ships will carry an estimated 110,994 passengers, many of whom will spend directly in the province’s tourism corridors.
“KwaZulu-Natal is ready. We will welcome some of the world’s most impressive vessels and a strong flow of international travellers who bring meaningful economic value,” Zondi stated.
