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Sanibonani, Durban
From:
DNAIndia Vidya Prabhu 24 July 2008
With the largest Caucasian, Indian, and racially mixed communities in
Africa, South Africa is as ethnically diverse as it can get. And Durban,
one of SA’s busiest cities, is no different. As a coastal city, the
climate here is quite humid – even in the winters which go on upto the
end of July.
Things to do
While the safari tour is very much a part of every tourist’s itinerary,
Durban is also known for its Zulu culture – its malls and entertainment
centres – and of course, its flora and fauna. What’s more, the city’s
location is a great advantage; it is just 45 minutes away from the
village of Zimbali, a premier residential, resort and golfing
development in Kwazulu Natal. In fact, the wellness lodge there is known
for its traditional head and shoulder massages.
Where entertainment centres are concerned, the first mention has to be
that of the uShaka Marine World, Africa’s largest themed marine park
with its delightful dolphin shows. This apart, you’ll find a shopping
area, snorkel reef and water slides here as well.
Talking of water, Durban’s most famous beach would probably be the
Golden Mile, thus named due to the golden hues of its sand. Durban has
its share of sea lovers and surfing is popular even in the winters. For
that matter, Durban is also into sports as is evident from its three
major stadiums – the Absa Rugby stadium which in turn is right opposite
the under-construction Moses Mabhida stadium. Interestingly, the latter
will also be hosting matches for the FIFA World Cup 2010. Then of
course, there’s the Sahara Kingsmead cricket stadium which should be on
every cricket fan’s must-see list.
For nature lovers
There’s a lot in store for nature lovers as well. You must visit the
Durban Botanical Gardens, which are a visual delight. With varied
species of plants and trees and a lake with lovely ducks quacking about,
a sense of tranquility is definitely in store for people here.
If you want to get a grip on the art and culture scene in Durban, do
stop by the Phansi
Museum. With displays of life-size dolls, beadwork, headrests,
meat-platters, carved spoons and a fine collection of Zulu clay pots
representing different regions and cultures of Southern Africa, it’s a
treasure trove of sorts. There’s also a contemporary collection of
modern sculptures to see.
Durban’s not lagging behind on its nightlife and shopping either. People
flock to the Gateway mall – one of the largest in Africa – with its
share of restaurants, shops and multiplexes. Good accommodation options
could be the Suncoast hotel, the Royal Palms and the Elangeni hotel.
So what are you waiting for? Just pack that bag and shout ‘Yebo Durban!’
Incentives to entice global airlines
to Durban airport
From:
Business Day 24 July 2008
KWAZULU-NATAL Tourism Authority and Airports Company SA are going all
out to attract long-haul international airlines to the new Durban
International Airport at La Mercy and are using attractive incentives to
entice them.
However, the sky-high fuel price and slow economy are making their task
extremely difficult, with many airlines cutting back on capacity or
preferring to add flights to more established centres such as
Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town
International Airport.
Ndabo Khoza, CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority, said while the
current economic conditions had hindered the province’s drive to attract
airlines to La Mercy, he believed the situation would improve in the
next two years.
“The economic situation is not permanent and we will continue lobbying
airlines to add Durban to their networks,” said Khoza.
Earlier this year, Emirates announced it would be adding daily flights
to Durban from December, but last month pulled the plug on those plans.
“Although demand on our Durban route was strong and well received, the
high fuel price has forced us to (re-evaluate) our route operations,”
said Fouad Caunhye, Emirates’ regional manager for southern Africa.
Another obstacle facing the initiative was restrictive bilateral air
policy agreements that made it virtually impossible for airlines to
operate commercially viable flights from Durban.
Khoza said the tourism authority would continue to push for more air
access to SA, and KwaZulu-Natal in particular, in a bid to grow the
province’s slice of the international tourism market.
“At the end of the day, if the capacity is there we can create the
demand and make the Durban route a sustainable one,” said Khoza.
While reluctant to give details of any incentives offered to airlines,
he said that any route would be supported by a strong marketing
campaign.
Durban has a large presence of domestic and regional carriers but there
is no long-haul international airline represented at the city’s airport.
The La Mercy airport is expected to be completed by the first quarter of
2010, boasting an ultramodern terminal.
KZN tourism feels the economic pinch
From:
The Mercury 24 July 2008
The KwaZulu-Natal tourism and hospitality industry has taken a
hammering owing to recent interest rate and petrol hikes.
Tourism KZN spokesperson James Seymour said there was a notable decline
in passengers coming into Durban International Airport and a decline in
people staying at hotels.
Seymour said Durban had the advantage of being close to Johannesburg,
making it still accessible to the leisure market.
"Another huge advantage is that we have a big internal population,
meaning that locals can visit tourism destinations closer to home," he
said.
However, Gerhard Patzer, provincial chairperson of the Federated
Hospitality Association of South Africa, said there had been an 8
percent drop in occupancy rates at all three-, four- and five-star
hotels in the past five months.
"Companies are cutting down on business trips and staying fewer nights
in hotels. Holidaymakers are also cutting back and we have seen an 8
percent decline from last year, meaning that people are using about 40
000 room nights less than last year."
However, Patzer said that this month was looking better than last year's
July
He said the reduced hotel occupancy was also because there were fewer
international conferences at Durban's International Convention Centre
than last year.
Dolphin Coast (Northern KZN) Tourism officer Nombuso Maphanga said the
hospitality industry in her area was also showing reduced bookings.
"Accommodation establishments have indicated that they were not more
than 50 percent booked up. Bookings were low compared to last year. The
tourism office was also quiet," she said.
A Hibiscus Coast Tourism official said that the South Coast, with 80 000
beds, was expecting a 20 percent decline in business. This was taking
into account the effects of recent floods in the area.
"We are quite happy with what we are seeing at the moment. We had a good
Easter and May had bumper events. The sardine run was also very
successful," said the official.
What a hoot!
From:
The Star 05 July 2008
You're driving from Gauteng to Durbs. You've got some time, maybe an
extra night or two should you find something worthwhile. Or perhaps
you're looking for a week away that isn't too far but is something
different from your norm. You might even be ready to leave the rat race
and move somewhere. Raise your glass to the Champagne Valley!
The Champagne Valley, named for the Champagne Castle peak, is just west
of Estcourt, off the N3. Quality tar roads take you there from Durban.
It's tucked into the Central Drakensberg, and is packed with
accommodation and activities.
Champagne Sports Resort anchors the Valley. This premier destination has
an 18-hole Hugh Baiocchi golf course, bowls, four swimming pools, a
business centre with wireless internet, and a fantastic restaurant.
Blesbok roam the well-maintained grounds, with views of the Champagne
Castle and Cathkin peaks.
There is lots to do at Champagne Sports Resort, if you don't care for
lounging at the pool or in your room. Grab a fishing rod and head out to
one of the five dams for some bass or trout, or put on some takkies for
basketball, badminton, or tennis. Reception has mountain bikes
available, and there's a squash court, too!
Children will enjoy the playground with trampolines and the sports putt
course next to it. You can also hit the table tennis or sand volleyball
court.
Cost is R805/night for a couple and R145/night for each child. See
champagnesportsresort.com or call 036-468- 8000 for more information.
For some culture and a slightly more casual holiday, head farther up the
Champagne Valley to the large green gate, shared by the Drakensberg
Boys' Choir School and Dragon Peaks Holiday Resort.
The Choir School holds concerts much of the year on Wednesdays at 1pm
(more info at 036-468-1012). And Dragon Peaks (036-468-1031) is great
fun, too. There's a large swimming pool, a kiddie pool, and two water
slides, volleyball court, tennis court, game room, hiking, helicopter
rides, and paintball.
They also maintain a beautiful array of birds in a large enclosure. The
accommodation ranges from camping to luxury thatched chalets. Dragon's
Rest is an on-site fine eating establishment with a pub next-door. For
the heartier adventurers, follow the R600 all the way up the Champagne
Valley to its end at Monk's Cowl, an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife park.
Camp on the grounds with the peaks right above you, but stow away your
food or the monkeys might snitch a snack. Or pop over to the cafe for
ultimate ease in the outback. You can hit the hiking trail and camp out
along the trail, too.
Businesses in KZN run at a loss after
floods
From:
IOL.co.za 15 July 2008
Hibberdene on the South Coast is at risk of becoming a ghost town as
businesses keeping the area alive teeter on the brink of collapse after
the closure of a bridge connecting locals and tourists travelling
between the town and Port Shepstone.
The bridge, which runs over the Umzimayi River on the R102, suffered
structural damage during the recent floods that left many areas,
including Amanzimtoti, devastated.
The small town's economy largely relies on passing trade that has taken
a huge knock after the closure of the bridge. Businesses have reported
30 percent reductions in revenue, with a local Spar supermarket
predicting losses of up to R1-million in July.
The closure of the bridge has divided Hibberdene into two, forcing
locals and public transport vehicles to travel via the N2, where they
are forced to pay R13 in toll fees.
The lack of work on the bridge has also frustrated many businesspeople,
who are threatening mass action by blocking traffic on the toll road
unless the work commences.
Hibberdene Buildit owner Kean Webster, who fears the worst for his
business, said he had lost 40 percent in profits after the floods. He
said he might be forced to shut down his business should the problem
persist.
He spends R65 on toll fees daily while making deliveries.
"As the owner of a building supply store, I should be a booming business
swamped with purchases and orders from people who've had their houses
damaged, but I'm losing instead. In July alone, I'll lose about R400 000
in turnover.
"I started my business in September. This should be my honeymoon stage
but instead I'm dealing with this massive blow. I have four people that
I had planned to employ before the floods who are now on standby because
I can't afford to employ them at the moment," Webster said.
He added that he was feeling the pinch of the high fuel costs as there
were certain areas his delivery trucks were unable to reach where he was
forced to use his 4x4.
Businessperson and farmers have together revived a dirt road that does
the work of the damaged bridge.
However, there are fears that it will deteriorate unless it is
maintained because the entire community uses it, including heavy duty
vehicles.
Engen garage owner Wynand Bezuidenhout said: "Tenders have not been
awarded yet. We understand the pressure on the local government, but
work on the bridge must commence because we are losing out while the
toll company is making a lot of money. If the situation persists, I
might retrench eight to 14 people because the only way I can cut costs
is through people. It's bad considering that for every person I
retrench, about five more people, who depend on them, are affected."
Wimpy owner Nils Potgieter said his business was "dying".
He said he had recorded poor profits over the holiday period, which
should have been a peak trading period for his business.
"It's been terrible. We rely on passing trade which we are missing out
on because of the damaged bridge.
"I employ 20 people who are at risk. We are approaching the council to
get permission to organise mass action in two weeks," he said.
Transport department spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said it would be
premature to comment on the matter because flood damage reports needed
to be submitted to the cabinet, which would decide on allocating
funding.
Durban's Warner Beach area to be upgraded
From:
IOL.co.za 08 July 2008
Plans are afoot to upgrade the run-down and neglected Warner Beach
area, to make the most of its magnificent ocean views and its untapped
eco-tourism potential.
"The area is a gem; a hidden treasure, but it needs upgrading. It has no
clear character. There is a real potential for the hospitality industry,
but it is not particularly well developed at the moment," said Derek
White, the urban development manager with the eThekwini Municipality,
which is behind the project.
The plan is part of the city's coastal regeneration programme and the
vision is to "create a marine sporting and leisure lover's paradise".
The urban design framework plan that has been drawn up will involve the
area from the popular swimming beach at Doonside, along Kingsway,
through Warner Beach, neighbouring Winklespruit and both sides of the
Ilova Estuary and inland to the N2 freeway.
It is a 6km stretch of real estate involving diverse attributes:
beaches, built-up areas and commercial strips.
"We know the potential of Umhlanga, but we don't yet know the full
potential of Warner Beach, and that is what we want to find out," said
Nardus van Heerden, the project leader and strategic development manager
with the city architects department.
Package
The city's economic development unit, which has established a fund to
upgrade key tourism nodes and corridors, has appointed the architects
department as development managers to package the project.
A multi-disciplinary consortium of Albonica Sacks Nzumara, involving
urban designers, project leaders, architects, engineers,
environmentalists and town planners, has been appointed to tackle the
various aspects of the programme, and the council also has its own team.
Public meetings have been held in Warner Beach about the scheme.
It is envisaged that the various aspects of the project - still to be
identified - will be rolled out over the next three to five years, with
some programmes taking longer if they need environmental approval.
Although still in the concept phase, White and Van Heerden said that the
programme would include landscaping, improving the signage and access to
the area and the beaches, dune rehabilitation as well as new paving and
lighting, traffic-calming turning circles and much-needed additional
parking areas.
Van Heerden and White said they were investigating how they could take
advantage of the railway line, and positive negotiations were going on
with the necessary authorities.
Next they will be taking the project on a "roadshow" to the various
council departments that will have to help make it all happen, to get
their support, enthusiasm and funding.
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