20 February 2007
KwaZulu-Natal is on the move and KwaZulu-Natal is definitely becoming the
major tourist destination of the country. According to statistics provided by
the Tourism Authority of KwaZulu-Natal, the Province attracted 11,6 million
domestic visitors and 1,6 million international visitors during 2005. This
translated into a monetary value of R20,7 billion for the provincial
economy.
Our tourism industry retained its number one status as South Africa's
leading domestic tourism destination in 2005 and surpassed the Western Cape in
terms of overall foreign tourism arrivals. These tourists visit every part of
our province.
New money
In the next 24 months, commencing March 2007, R2,2 billion will be spent on
the construction of the new 2010 soccer stadium. Approximately R4 billion will
be spent on the construction of the new International Airport and the Dube
TradePort at La Mercy. The R350 million Main Road 700 Corridor from Richards
Bay to Ulundi is now under construction as is the R300 million Main Road 577
from Mtubatuba to Hlabisa and Nongoma. These projects alone are in excess of R7
billion.
Never in the history of KwaZulu-Natal has so much money been invested within
such a short space of time. The Dube TradePort alone will contribute R12,4
billion to the economy and is estimated to create between 150 000 to 240 000
jobs.
This is an indication of the confidence and commitment that this government
has in developing KwaZulu-Natal.
Second, third, fourth
The second chance to host the A1 Grand Prix in the province of KwaZulu-Natal
is a confirmation of our claim that we are indeed the Home of Sport. During the
A1 Grand Prix, through television and marketing, KwaZulu-Natal will once more
be televised to over 2 billion viewers throughout the world. That amounts to
immeasurable exposure for our province.
During this event we will be hosting some of the best technical teams and
drivers in the world as far as this brand of sport goes. They are here to
compete for the glory of their national flags and have behind them the hopes
and aspirations of millions of their compatriots back home. We have no doubt
that when we look back we will say without hesitation that we were able to
contribute, as best as we could, to the development and promotion of motor
sport in our continent in general, and in our own country in particular. We are
also in no doubt that the hosting of an event of this magnitude, before we host
the 2010 Soccer World Cup, will give us a chance to reconfirm our mettle as
organisers and hosts of international standing.
Sport represents the greatest opportunity of rallying our people, black and
white, towards the creation of a new KwaZulu-Natal whose rallying cry has been
that of peace, democracy and development. In seeking to continue on the path of
nation-building we are aware of the capacity of the A1 Grand Prix to focus the
minds of our people around the goal of fair play while training their eyes on
the victory of our country. We hope that in carrying out this responsibility we
can drive faster the hopes of our people towards a prosperous future and steer
their aspirations towards a better KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Africa from
which all our people can benefit.
Tourism
The hosting of this spectacle means that thousands will descend on our
shores, while billions of others will be watching on television. This will
translate into jobs for our people and stimulate economic activity. As a
provincial government, we are committed to using sport as a leverage to develop
KwaZulu-Natal. Indeed, around the city and province we are building the
necessary sporting infrastructure to successfully host events of this
magnitude. Given the fact that South Africa is one of the countries with the
best climate, we in the province complement this with the best beaches as well
as accommodation facilities across the range. Our greatest asset, however,
remains our people who in their numbers will ensure that we have an even better
and successful A1 Grand Prix in Durban. We have dispelled the myth of Third
World ineptitude by effectively placing the province on the international
stage.
KwaZulu-Natal is indeed a winning province. From creating peace and
stability in 2004 we have now moved to "Building the economy through
Partnerships."
Enquires:
Logan Maistry
Spokesperson to Premier Ndebele
Cell: 083 644 4050
E-mail: maistryl@premier.kzntl.gov.za
Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
20 February 2007
