KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has proposed the establishment of Municipal Tourism Development Funds to empower local governments.
He called for municipalities to establish dedicated tourism funds in order to actively support tourism initiatives, enhance service delivery, and integrate tourism into Local Economic Development (LED) and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
He further urged municipalities to strengthen partnerships with Community Tourism Organisations (CTOs), ensuring that community-based tourism becomes a pillar of inclusive economic growth.
Ntuli made the remarks at the 2025 Provincial Tourism Conference which was held on Friday and brought together government leaders, tourism stakeholders, and business representatives.
Hosted under the theme “Tourism in Transition: Confronting Challenges, Cultivating Tomorrow, Connecting Through Collaboration,” the conference took place at Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel.
The Premier highlighted that KwaZulu-Natal recorded 2.4 million overnight trips in the second quarter of 2025, a 134% increase from the previous year, reflecting renewed confidence and hope in the province’s tourism brand.
He further called for sustainable Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) to drive infrastructure renewal, safety, service excellence, and air route development, noting that “tourism must be government-led, private-sector-driven, and community-based.”
Ntuli highlighted tourism’s central role in KwaZulu-Natal’s economic transformation, job creation and community empowerment. He described tourism as “the living expression of our economic geography” connecting rural landscapes to global markets and transforming natural and cultural assets into livelihoods.
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environment Affairs Musa Zondi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaboration across all levels of the tourism value chain. He emphasised that tourism cannot thrive in isolation but depends on coordinated action between departments, municipalities, the private sector, and communities.
He said, “We are building a tourism sector that is resilient, inclusive, and future-ready. Through collaboration, we can turn challenges into opportunities and cultivate a tomorrow that benefits every corner of our province.”
THE MERCURY
