eThekwini Surges Up Global Rankings as Durban Welcomes 1.2 Million Festive Visitors
South Africa's coastal jewel is firmly reasserting itself on the world tourism map. With its year-round warm weather, golden beaches and rich cultural heritage, eThekwini, home to the city of Durban, continues to strengthen its position as one of the continent's leading destinations, drawing growing numbers of leisure travellers, business visitors and event delegates. The latest performance figures, shared by city leadership, suggest a tourism economy on a confident upward trajectory and a destination that is increasingly relevant for the African travel trade looking to diversify its South African product offering.
According to eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba, the city welcomed approximately 1.2 million visitors during the 2025 festive season, with accommodation occupancy climbing to 77%, up from 72% in 2024. Even more telling for the trade, tourism expenditure during the same period rose from R2.2 billion to R2.7 billion, a sharp 24% increase that points to higher-value visitors and stronger spend across hospitality, retail, food and beverage, transport and entertainment. These figures place Durban among the standout urban tourism performers in southern Africa during the most recent peak season.
Mayor Xaba also drew attention to a notable global accolade. The city was recently ranked 14th among the world's best places to travel in 2026 by Time Out Worldwide, an endorsement that resonates strongly in international source markets and offers African outbound operators a credible new selling point for clients considering a South African beach-and-city break. "This demonstrates that our tourism sector is firmly on an upward trajectory," the Mayor said during a media roundtable on the progress of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group.
A central driver of the improved festive performance was the reopening of all 23 bathing beaches along the city's coastline, a milestone made possible by extensive investment in sanitation infrastructure. Xaba explained that significant work had been done to upgrade and repair systems across the city, improve compliance with operating licences, expand capacity and lift effluent quality. The result is a coastline that is once again fully accessible, swimmable and safe for visitors, restoring one of Durban's most important tourism assets.
The Presidential eThekwini Working Group, under whose framework these interventions sit, was established to coordinate and accelerate efforts to address developmental, infrastructure, economic and service-delivery challenges in the metropolitan area. It is designed to strengthen collaboration between national, provincial and local government while improving stakeholder engagement and communication. For the travel sector, the Working Group's existence represents a structured commitment to ensuring that the city's tourism backbone, from roads to beachfronts to public spaces, remains fit for purpose.
Inner-city rejuvenation is also progressing well, with the municipality rehabilitating major road networks within the central business district. Completed routes include Sandile Thusi Road, Smiso Nkwanyana Road, Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, Soldiers Way, Market Road and Margaret Mncadi Avenue, with ongoing refurbishment of Dr Pixley Ka Seme Street, formerly known as West Street. These improvements directly affect tourist mobility, hotel access, transfers from King Shaka International Airport and the overall visitor experience in Durban's bustling urban core.
Substantial progress has also been recorded in repairing flood-damaged infrastructure, an area of significant concern for trade partners since the devastating weather events of recent years. Completed projects include the R20 million Tshelimnyama Bridge, the R40 million Phoenix Industrial Park Bridge, the R47 million Coedmore Bridge Road upgrade and the R70 million Blundell Road Bridge in Shallcross. Together, these investments rebuild critical transport links between communities, business districts and tourism nodes, restoring confidence in the city's resilience.
For African operators packaging South Africa, eThekwini's resurgence opens fresh opportunities. The combination of warm-water beaches, vibrant Indian and Zulu cultural heritage, world-class MICE infrastructure at the Durban ICC, the uShaka Marine World, the Moses Mabhida Stadium and a steadily improving urban environment makes the city an increasingly compelling alternative or complement to Cape Town and Johannesburg. With visitor numbers, spend and global recognition all moving in the right direction, Durban is signalling that it is ready to play a much larger role in continental and intercontinental travel itineraries.
