The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) launched the eThekwini Coastal Tourism Policing initiative aimed at strengthening safety along Durban’s beachfront and tourism hotspots during Africa’s Travel Indaba.
The initiative, supported through the Tourism Levy South Africa Collaborative Fund, includes patrol vehicles, quad bikes, trailers and uniforms to improve visible policing and rapid response capabilities.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Maggie Sotyu said tourism safety is central to the sector’s growth and competitiveness.
“A destination that feels safe is a destination that can grow. A protected destination can attract investment, create jobs and welcome the world with confidence. That is why today’s handover is important.”
Sotyu said the initiative contributes to the establishment of a more coordinated tourism and coastal safety unit focused on the beachfront and surrounding visitor zones.
TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa said the initiative is part of broader efforts to revitalise Durban’s tourism sector and restore visitor confidence in the city.
He said safety and security along the beachfront emerged as a key issue in discussions about attracting domestic and international travellers back to Durban.
“Our response and commitment, as the private sector, is to ensure that the beachfront is safe and those involved in tourism are able to confidently attract tourists.”
The initiative is part of wider collaboration between the public and private sectors under the Presidential eThekwini Revitalisation Programme, Tshivhengwa added.
“This is the beginning of more things that still need to come in terms of bringing tourists, domestic and international, back to Durban.”
The new vehicles have been fitted with dash-cams and onboard cameras as part of the municipality’s smart policing programme, he pointed out.
