RICHARDS Bay, KwaZulu Natal, is fast becoming an alternative tourism destination to Durban and the South Coast, especially with international passenger liners, which use the Bay as an overnight stopover.
According to Richards Bay Tourism Association chairman, Errard Sullivan, six international passenger liners have visited the area since the beginning of the year.
"We're less than an hour away from the major tourist destinations such as the St Lucia World Heritage Site, Shakaland, and the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve".
Sullivan says he is also encouraged by the mayor, Elphas Mbatha's speech last week and Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini's acknowledgment that tourism could be a major economic force.
"With the political role-players backing us, we can get a lot more done in a much shorter period of time," says Sullivan.
"Richards Bay has a lot to offer and we must market ourselves aggressively," said the mayor, addressing the Richards Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association last week. He said tourism would be the strength of future development in the town.
This follows an earlier speech by King Goodwill Zwelithini in which he urged the police to fight crime in the province so that tourism could thrive in KwaZulu Natal.
"We have the assets to sustain world-class tourism but the high crime factor is seriously threatening our tourism," said Zwelithini in his opening address to the International Police Association Congress held in Durban last week.
The amalgamation of the Richards Bay and Empangeni municipalities and subsequent conjunction of the tourism authorities would enable the area to significantly increase its strength as a major role-player, says Sullivan.
"We'll be fighting with a united, regional strength and I believe we'll see our future development plans come to fruition this way."
He told Travel Now that plans for the construction of a harbour passenger terminal were progressing, with a preferred bidder for contract work having already been identified.
"It's just a matter of time now," he said.
(Adele Mackenzie)
