International tourism to KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) remains severely impacted, with numbers still 80% below pre-pandemic levels, despite stable domestic travel to Durban.

Several factors deter international visitors from returning, including the shortage of direct flights, limited infrastructure maintenance by local authorities, delayed repairs to flood-damaged areas, and safety issues, especially along the beachfront.

To counter these issues, Durban’s air route development committee, Durban Direct, was created as a collaborative effort among stakeholders aiming to boost direct flights and foreign investment in KZN’s tourism sector.

While the province sees 364 domestic flights weekly, only 22 international flights operate through King Shaka International Airport. In 2023, international flights were still 39% below pre-Covid frequencies.

Lack of nfrastructure and crime

Several barriers contribute to this shortfall. Alongside the limited direct flights, insufficient infrastructure upkeep by the municipality and province, prolonged repair times for flood-damaged areas, and beach crime continue to affect tourism.

Barry Fuller, owner of Ricksha Tours in Durban, told Travel News South Africa that public safety concerns and inadequate municipal maintenance discourage international visitors.

He added that, even with the recent investments focused on domestic tourism in areas like Umhlanga, more needs to be done to appeal to international travellers and increase foreign access to the province.

Durban’s water and sewer systems have yet to fully recover from the 2022 floods, leading to water restrictions and polluted beaches, which has impacted the city’s appeal as a beach destination.

Additionally, Durban’s beachfront areas, traditionally key tourist spots, face challenges such as homelessness and illicit activities, prompting hotels to adopt extra security measures for guest safety.

Efforts to attract new airlines and reinstate previous routes are ongoing. FEDHASA reports domestic bookings for December appear positive but believes international recovery will take longer.

“For the amount of tourism Durban currently has, the airlift is sufficient. But if Durban is going to grow the tourism market again, then it needs more diversity in airlift and, that is why we need more airlines to come into the province,” Brett Tungay, Board Member of FEDHASA East Coast told Travel News.

King Shaka International Airport offers competitive landing fees, yet it struggles to attract more international carriers due to the lack of consistent demand from overseas visitors.

Currently, the airport retains only three intercontinental airlines – Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways along with some regional routes through Airlink, Proflight, and Eswatini.

Durban Direct’s strategy focuses on creating an attractive market proposition for airlines by showcasing KZN’s tourism potential.

The committee is also dedicated to re-establishing direct flights, particularly targeting key routes like British Airways’ Heathrow-Durban connection and the Mauritius route.