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eThekwini hopes to lift Durban visitor numbers

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Michael Mabuyakhulu and Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Michael Mabuyakhulu and Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom

22nd September 2015

By: Shirley le Guern

Creamer Media Correspondent

  

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The eThekwini municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government are aiming to increase the number of international arrivals in Durban by at least two-million visitors a year – a target that is likely to be boosted by the announcement that Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways plan to introduce flights to Durban before year-end.

Speaking at the 2015 World Routes Summit at the Durban International Convention Centre, eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo said passenger numbers at King Shaka International Airport were steadily rising.

The city and the provincial government would aim to increase visitor numbers to the city from 3.8-million to more than five-million over the next seven years.

This is over and above arrivals for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He said the city was already well prepared to handle the expected increase in visitors attending the sporting event.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Michael Mabuyakhulu and Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom formally announced that Qatar Airways would be flying to Durban, with the first flight to touch down at King Shaka International Airport on December 17.

The airline would offer flights between Durban and Doha four times a week with a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft via Johannesburg. It would connect Durban to more than 151 destinations via Qatar Airways’ Doha Hub.

The airline would also increase flights to both Johannesburg and Durban.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines announced that it would launch a third South African route between Durban and Istanbul in November, with the aim of growing tourism in both countries.

It would offer four flights a week via Johannesburg with plans to implement a daily flight in the near future.

From October 26, the airline would also start flying directly to Cape Town from Istanbul. It already offered direct flights between Johannesburg and Istanbul. 

Mabuyakhulu said the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government, together with Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA), had invested heavily in the establishment of King Shaka International Airport and the surrounding state-of-the-art Dube TradePort that lies at the heart of Durban’s aerotropolis.

“This development has created a unique opportunity to increase international air arrivals as it is a gateway unique to the African continent. Dube TradePort facilitates the export, import and transshipment of products and the continued investment by government will allow the positioning of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa to participate in export-driven activities and international trade,” he noted.

King Shaka International Airport GM Terence Delomoney pointed out that airport management was currently reviewing the airport master plan with a view to increasing capacity even further and anticipating any operational deficiencies associated with greater passenger traffic.

He noted that the airport was originally built to handle 7.5-million passengers. It was currently dealing with about 4.6-million passengers, which meant it would be able to accommodate further increases in passenger numbers.

Mabuyakhulu said that, in order to increase passenger numbers and international visitors, partnerships between key stakeholders in the value chain were essential. Key source markets such as Asia, India, China, the Gulf and other Brics countries were already being targeted, he said.

He stated that it was necessary to adopt a holistic approach. KwaZulu-Natal was currently South Africa’s largest domestic tourism destination and the potential for tourism growth from the rest of Africa should not be discounted.

As a result, he said, the role of local airlines in growing traffic through King Shaka International Airport should not be discounted.

He added that provincial government would also be looking to create links between Durban and other capital cities within the Southern African Development Community region.eThekwini hopes to lift Durban visitor numbers

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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