Durban MUNICIPALITY expects more than 1.2 million visitors this Easter weekend. The mayor of this council, Mr. Cyril Xaba, said that they expect tourists to spend R2.6 billion.
He said this while talking to the media yesterday, where he was explaining the preparations for Easter. Xaba said they expect 16,000 job opportunities to be created.
“We expect accommodations to be at 62% occupancy.”
Xaba said that fun will be asked in Durban, this weekend.
“People who will be visiting will smoke believe it as there are various events including the One Man Concert, Doek On Fleak, Sjava 10th Year Celebration Tour and others. Families who will be visiting will also be able to enjoy programs to entertain children at Shaka Marine Theme Park and parks including Mitchell Park Zoo and Durban Botanic Gardens. These programs are designed for children to have fun and find things that will open their minds during the holidays.”
Xaba said that they are happy that all the buses are open.
“All 23 beaches are open. In the past months, our beaches have always been open. The opening of the beaches clearly shows that our work to repair the sewerage infrastructure continues. When the budget was revised last month, R1.2 billion was allocated to repair the infrastructure for this.”
Xaba said they will deploy 200 divers.
“We urge people to respect the instructions of divers, to swim in areas where swimming is allowed. People should avoid swimming and drinking tap water.”
Xaba said security will be tight.
“More than 1,000 police officers will be working. They will be checking the situation in different places, including places of entertainment. We have increased the number of traffic police. Vehicles that are not in good condition will be removed from the roads. We will have more than 20 roadblocks.”
He said that when it rains, he does not sleep well because of the issue of floods.
“The rain that caused damage in Durban has yet to forgive us. I don’t sleep at all when it rains.”
He said the events held in this city bring a lot of profit from the tourism side.
“We even beat the city of Cape Town with the things in Durban, the problem is that Durban is not marketed enough. There is a businessman who suggested that jazz from Cape Town should come to this city, which is a good idea. We are fixing things like closing potholes on the roads, we are fixing them and putting lights on the roads and other things.”
On the issue of immigrants who are in the country illegally, he said that all agencies need to work together to fight this problem because even if they are sent back to their countries, they will come back again.