The eThekwini Municipality has seen a resurgence in tourism, with both international and domestic visitor numbers showing exceptional growth and economic impact from January to May 2025.
This performance signals a strong recovery for the sector and reaffirms Durban’s position as one of South Africa’s most attractive and dynamic travel destinations.
Rebounded impressively
According to the latest data, international tourism has rebounded impressively, with over 186 000 additional arrivals, compared to the same period last year.
This influx generated a combined spend of more than R750 million, driven by robust card transactions and cash withdrawals.
The data was presented by the Research and Data Unit of South African Tourism during a two-day Strategic Planning Workshop of the eThekwini Presidential Working Group (Workstream 4), held last week.
The data showed that during the Easter period in April alone, the tourism sector contributed R115.9 million, reflecting a 48% year-on-year increase.
Leading international source markets include Mozambique, the United Kingdom, and the United States, highlighting Durban’s global appeal.
Easter holiday period
Domestically, Durban welcomed 2.8 million trips, resulting in a remarkable R4.8 billion in combined spend.
The Easter holiday period saw a 52% increase in domestic spend, while May outperformed April, reaching R844 million, a 50% growth, compared to the previous month.
A notable highlight is the surge in visitors from Cape Town, alongside Johannesburg and Tshwane, reinforcing Durban’s status as a preferred leisure destination for South Africa’s major metros.
Spending trends
Spending trends reveal that retail and dining are the top-performing categories, driven by leisure travel.
While traditional hotel stays remain relevant, the date showed that many domestic travellers are increasingly choosing shared or self-catering accommodation options, reflecting evolving travel preferences.
EThekwini City Manager, Musa Mbhele, said this performance underlines the importance of continued investment in tourism marketing, seasonal campaigns, and infrastructure that supports both leisure and business travel.
“These results are not just encouraging – they are a clear signal that our strategic investments in tourism are paying off. Durban is not only bouncing back; we are setting the pace for tourism recovery in South Africa.
“We remain fully committed to enhancing visitor experiences, expanding our offerings, and ensuring that Durban continues to thrive as a world-class destination for both leisure and business travel,” Mbhele said.
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