Page 9 - TKZN Annual Report 2023/2024

and the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and the private sector to lobby for more international airlines to land directly at KISA.
These efforts brought major international airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Air and Turkish Airlines to Durban. British Airways have indicated that they would like to reinstate their direct flight to Durban, which we look forward to. Regionally we have welcomed eSwatini Air, Proflight Zambia and Airlinks direct flight to Harare and we are looking forward to welcoming more airlines as we seek to attract more travelers from the African Continent.
2010 was a major milestone for KZN as one of the host cities for the 2010 World Cup Soccer Tournament, which gave us the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium changing the skyline of Durban. This has become a venue for mega events from music to sport, such as the MTN 8 soccer cup finals, further enabling KZN to position itself as an events and sports destination.
TKZN has done a significant amount of work in conjunction with sister entities, the Department of Economic Affairs, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and funding agencies to integrate local communities and previously neglected groups into the tourism sector. Not only has TKZN provided business training for hundreds of aspirant entrepreneurs through its Tourism Development Programme, it has also provided support to communities and
private developers in rural areas to enhance their tourism product development plans. The entity has also actively marketed the province’s rural travel internationally. In spite these efforts there is still a great need for continued transformation within the sector.
A sign of a well-managed organisation is the retention of staff, and it is pleasing to note that many of TKZN’s senior staff have at least 25 years of service, providing the entity with a depth of knowledge, experience and guidance.
In closing, I would like to thank our shareholder, the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and the Acting Head of the Department, Dr Thandeka Ellenson, for their leadership and support throughout the year. I also would like to express my gratitude to my Board colleagues, the management team and all staff members of Tourism KwaZulu- Natal, as well as our valued tourism trade partners, all of whom continue to work extremely hard to promote diverse attractions of KwaZulu-Natal which brings tourists to our region.
PROF. THANDI NZAMA
Chairperson
TOURISM KWAZULU-NATAL ANNUAL REPORT 2023/2024 7