Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Durban, South Africa welcomed the Queen Mary 2 with its 950 crew and 2,000 passengers at The N Shed in Durban’s old harbor on April 3. Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda welcomed the ship, highlighting the city’s status as a premier destination for passengers.
He said the docking of Queen Mary 2 could not have come at a better time as the city is busy with its winter season destination promotion campaign, which includes showcasing the many tourism offerings of the city through organized city tours for passengers.
Kaunda also mentioned the ongoing expansion of the Port of Durban, which is expected to be a major draw-card for cruise liners and will include five-star hotels, retail malls, apartments, and an African cultural center.
Passengers are taking part in various activities such as exploring the city on the Rickshaw bus, visiting the Valley of 1000 Hills, and going on a historical tour visiting attractions including the Durban City Hall and the Playhouse Theatre. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal is also taking some passengers to St. Lucia, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and Hluhluwe.
The municipality revealed its readiness to host visitors anticipated to flock to its shores over the Easter period. It is anticipating an occupancy rate of 65% during the Easter holidays, compared to last year’s 63%, and a visitor flow of 1.25 million visitors compared to last year’s flow of 1.2 million visitors. The municipality is also working with Durban Tourism and nine community tourism organizations to offer Easter discounted travel packages.
Most of the city’s beaches are open and safe for swimming, with 19 of the 23 beaches open for visitors. Laguna Beach operates seasonally during peak periods such as the Easter holidays and the festive season.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
