The city of Durban has been ranked among the world’s top destinations to visit by Time Out Worldwide.
In its newly released list of ‘The Best Places to Travel in 2026’, the global media and hospitality brand ranked Durban 14th, further cementing its status as a premier destination for tourism, leisure, and entertainment.
EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba, has welcomed the announcement and described it as well deserved, noting that the City has worked tirelessly to ensure a thriving tourism sector.
“As a city, we are pleased to receive this global recognition. This is a clear indication that Durban’s tourism sector is firmly on an upward trajectory as we work towards fully surpassing pre-COVID-19 growth levels,” he said.
Mayor Xaba added that the City’s commitment to accelerating service delivery through infrastructure upgrades is fundamental to creating a conducive environment for tourism growth and investment.
In 2025, the City recorded a significant increase in visitor numbers compared to the previous year.
During last year’s festive season, Durban welcomed close to 1.2 million visitors, up from 998,000 in 2024, which is an impressive 19 percent increase.
Accommodation occupancy rose to 77 percent, compared to 72 percent in 2024.
Direct tourism spend increased from R2.2 billion to R2.7 billion, reflecting 24 percent growth.
The sector’s GDP contribution grew from R5.5 billion to R9.6 billion, creating more than 14,000 job opportunities.
These figures reaffirm tourism as a key driver of the local economy.
The latest development follows an announcement by the University of KwaZulu-Natal that business confidence in eThekwini improved significantly, rising from 52.12 points in the third quarter of 2025 to 63.38 points in the fourth quarter.
“This clearly demonstrates that eThekwini is rising, and we will spare no effort in ensuring that we live up to our slogan of being Africa’s playground and a premier destination for investment,” said Mayor Xaba.
He attributed the latest accolade to the political and administrative stability currently prevailing in the City, which has enhanced performance, accountability, and investor confidence.
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate.
For more information, contact Mayoral Spokesperson Mluleki Mntungwa on 060 974 1140.
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