Sibusiso Zindela

Tourism KZN aims to transform the local economy through job creation and community upliftment by promoting cosy huts and the discovery of rural roots.

Following months of the tourism sector being banned from operations due to the nationwide lockdown, the tourism sector is looking forward to a bumper summer season and many accommodation venues have seen a rush in bookings after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the move to level 1, which will see the sector opening it operations.

Speaking with the members of the media, KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube, said they view job creation as critical for economic growth in the province.

“We view job creation as critical for economic growth in the province and have put in place plans to have a speedy recovery of the tourism and hospitality industry,” she said.

Even with facing hard time during the nationwide lockdown, Tourism KZN’s priority has always been keeping in touch with visitors and holiday makers, said Thulisile Galekile, General Manager for Marketing at Tourism KZN.

“In spite of the lockdown, as Tourism KZN we made sure that we remain top of mind to our visitors and holidaymakers through our social and digital campaigns. We have been working very closely with our trade partners to get ready for the opening of the sector. As a result, they have put together amazing specials to get people traveling again and we are beginning to see the results as this long weekend, we are seeing a huge spike in number of tourists across the province,” she said.

She added that as Tourism KZN they want to get people to travel again and rebuild the sector.

Picture: Tourism KZN