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It’s good news for Durban!
The city's tourism numbers are on the rise, with South African travellers leading the recovery, while international visitors are also starting to stream in.
The latest tourism numbers were presented at the Presidential eThekwini Working Group’s Tourism Revitalisation meeting in uMhlanga last Friday.
While Durban's beachfront remains one of the biggest attractions, the city is increasingly looking to broaden its tourism offering and give visitors more reasons to explore beyond the coast.
READ: South Africa tourism: What if we became tourists in our own country?
Domestic tourism remains the backbone
According to South African Tourism’s Head of Data Analytics, Melusi Mngomezulu, eThekwini recorded approximately 1.8 million domestic trips between January and May 2026, generating around R14.5 billion in visitor spending.
While somewhat lower than the exceptionally strong 2025 figures, it is still 38% higher than in 2024.
Accommodation and dining were among the areas showing real growth, suggesting visitors aren’t just simply passing through Durban. They’re staying, eating and spending in the city.
That's good news for the local tourism econom, particularly businesses that rely on visitors for a steady stream of customers
International tourism is picking up
International tourism is also showing encouraging signs.
Approximately 134 900 international visitors came to Durban in the first five months of 2026, generating around R416.2 million in spending.
Again, the figure is moderated compared with 2025, but remains above 2024 levels.
The United Kingdom, United States, Mozambique, Australia and United Arab Emirates remain important source markets, while African markets including Zambia, Kenya, and Tanzania are showing growth.
The improving tourism picture is also supported by the recovery of Durban’s main gateway, King Shaka International Airport.
As Time Out Durban reported last week, the airport handled 5.6 million passengers during the 2025/26 financial year, representing a 92% recovery against its pre-pandemic 2019/20 passenger baseline.
READ: King Shaka International Airport is on the rise: Why its recovery matters for Durban
What’s the next challenge?
Getting visitors to Durban is one thing. Getting them to stay longer and spend more is the next challenge.
“Our focus now is not only on increasing visitor numbers but on creating experiences that encourage visitors to stay longer, spend more and contribute meaningfully to local businesses, communities and economic growth,” says Lihle Phewa, Executive Director for Economic Development and Planning and Co-Chairperson of Workstream 4.
“Through continued collaboration between government and the private sector, we are confident that the tourism sector will continue its upward trajectory.”
The latest figures come as Durban looks to broaden its tourism offering beyond its traditional beachfront attractions.
Time Out Durban recently reported on the city’s discussions around township, heritage and community-based tourism experiences, as the city looks for new ways to encourage visitors to explore different parts of eThekwini.
READ: Durban is looking beyond the beachfront for its next tourism boost
The thinking is simple: give visitors more reasons to explore beyond the beaches, and there's a better chance they'll stay longer and spend more while they're here.
For now, the numbers are moving in the right direction. With domestic travellers continuing to underpin the recovery and international tourism showing signs of improvement, Durban's tourism sector has plenty to build on for the rest of 2026.
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