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 pr.