The beginning of the 2023/24 South African cruise season, with MSC Splendida sailing roundtrip from Durban to island destinations in the Indian Ocean, has provided township tourism in KZN with a boost.

On MSC Splendida’s upcoming December 15th departure alone more than 500 domestic cruise tourists from Gauteng will stay overnight in hotels in Clermont as part of the townships tourism campaign.

When the ship returns to Durban following its three day cruise to Portuguese Island, the group will again stay in hotels in the township before travelling onward to Gauteng.

The organiser of the Soweto/Clermont township initiative and founder of Clermont Tourism DMC, Chris Phili, said the aim of the event is to provide entertainment and boost domestic tourism and the economy in Durban.

“We are expecting more than 500 guests to spend a night in three accommodations situated in Durban on Thursday. Upon their arrival, eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda will deliver a welcome speech to appreciate them for visiting Durban before heading to their Mozambique trip,” he said.

“They will also experience loads of entertainment at Egagasini Lounge, which is located right next to one of the hotels they will be occupying on the night. In the next morning, they will travel to Mozambique and come back again after four days,” said Phili.

Clermont Tourism DMC has been encouraging growth in the tourism sector in the townships for 10 years with partner, Jozi FM community radio station.

“We will be receiving recognition for the first time by the mayor and this motivates us to keep doing what we do for our tourists,” added Phili. 

“This is indeed an indication that we are achieving our goal in creating sister townships between Soweto and Clermont. And also in preventing the fear of tourists’ discomfort associated with strangers encountered at foreign destinations,” he said.

Clermont Tourism DMC is one of several local initiatives to boost tourism in Durban and surrounding areas during the summer cruise season. In September, Kaunda unveiled the “Durban Sizzling Summer Campaign”, which is aimed at promoting and attracting travellers to the city ahead of the summer season.

The SAPS also launched the Safer Festive Season operations last week, which aim to ensure police visibility on the streets.“We are looking forward to hosting our guests and we are certain that they will have the time of their life in Durban’s warm hospitality,” said Phili.