The Amphitheatre in the Northern Drakensberg. KZN Tourism is forecasting a bumper winter holiday season.
KwaZulu-Natal is preparing for a strong winter tourism season, with forecasts indicating that more than 920 000 visitors will travel to the province during the upcoming school holiday period, generating close to R1.9 billion in tourism expenditure.
The latest Winter 2026 Tourism Forecast projects total arrivals of 920 320 visitors between 26 June and 20 July 2026, representing growth from the 860 035 visitors recorded during the same period last year. Domestic arrivals are expected to reach 857 107, while international arrivals are forecast at 63 213.
Visitor spending is projected to increase from R1.8 bn in 2025 to R1.9 bn this year.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Rev. Musa Zondi said the forecast demonstrates both the resilience of the tourism sector and the continued appeal of KwaZulu-Natal as a destination of choice.
