- 2020–2021 Crash (COVID Impact): Global and South African tourism collapsed. International arrivals to SA dropped ~72.6% in 2020 vs. 2019, with further declines into 2021. Durban followed this pattern, with sharp falls in visitors, hotel occupancy, and revenue.
- 2022–2023 Rebound: Recovery began as restrictions eased. Domestic tourism (always dominant in Durban) helped lead the way. KZN saw domestic trips exceed pre-pandemic levels in some reports.
- 2024–2025 Growth/Surge: Recent data points to strong gains:
- Festive season 2025: ~1.2 million visitors (up ~20% from ~900,000–998,000 in 2024), with direct spend rising to R2.7 billion (from R2.2 billion, ~24% increase).
- Jan–May 2025: 2.8 million domestic trips + strong international growth (e.g., +186,000 international arrivals vs. prior year), injecting billions into the economy.
- Hotel occupancy in Durban showed gains (e.g., ~51.6% in one 2025 period, up from prior years; some RevPAR growth), though it often lagged national or Cape Town averages.
National context (relevant since Durban is a key KZN destination): SA international tourist arrivals in 2024 were still ~12.8% below 2019 levels overall, but growing year-on-year. Durban’s domestic-heavy market and events helped it perform relatively well in recovery.
Challenges and Nuances
- Not fully back to 2019 peaks everywhere: International arrivals and some occupancy metrics remain below pre-COVID highs in places. Issues like infrastructure (e.g., port, beaches), safety perceptions, and economic pressures in SA have been cited as headwinds.
- Some older reports noted longer-term concerns or declines in certain segments pre- or post-COVID, but recent official and municipal data emphasize resurgence.
- Domestic tourism has been a stabilizer and growth driver for Durban.
Bottom line: The last 5 years include a deep trough (2020–2021) but end on an upward trajectory with record or near-record recent festive/domestic numbers. Durban tourism has rebounded strongly rather than continuing a decline.
