KZN Tourism welcomes increase in tourism figures
The KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism says it is excited by the increase in the number of tourists visiting the country.
Stats SA said in a report released this week that there was a 12.8% increase in the number of tourists coming to South Africa last year. International figures increased by 18% with the most visitors coming from China followed by India.
Most people used the Cape Town International Airport and OR Tambo to enter the country with just 1.9% flying in via King Shaka International Airport.
The department’s Bongani Tembe says they are hopeful the figures will increase as they have embarked on an aggressive campaign to sell KZN.
"We are currently engaging different airlines in hopes of securing more direct flights to Durban which we believe will further increase the number of visitors," he said.
"Just recently, MEC Sihle Zikalala had a very fruitful meeting with an agency that deals with tourism in the UK. The agency has agreed to assist us in increasing the number of British tourists who visit KZN," Tembe said.