BIG PLANS are brewing for two of Durban’s biggest money-spinners as the City Manager turns his attention to uShaka Marine World and the Durban ICC.
The two Durban landmarks are being lined up for a major push to improve their operations, attract investment and strengthen their contribution to tourism and job creation.
City Manager Musa Mbhele chaired a high-level strategic meeting on Wednesday, 30 September, bringing together the executive leadership of the Durban Marine Theme Park, which operates uShaka Marine World, and the Durban ICC.
The message from the meeting was clear: the City’s major economic assets need to perform at their full potential.
uShaka Marine World remains a major attraction on Durban’s coastline, drawing visitors who spend money at hotels, restaurants, shops and other businesses around the Point Waterfront precinct.
Just a short distance away, the Durban ICC continues to pull major conferences, exhibitions and business events into the city, supporting Durban’s lucrative business tourism sector.
NOW FOR THE BIGGER PLAN
At the centre of the discussions was the proposed World Trade Centre Durban, a project aimed at creating a dedicated base for international trade, commerce and investment.
The City is considering the acquisition of the Smart Xchange building to accommodate the proposed World Trade Centre Durban.
Another proposal on the table is the closure of Walnut Road to create an integrated precinct linking the area more effectively.
But residents and stakeholders will have their say.
The municipality says both proposals remain subject to the required municipal approval and public participation processes.
VACANCIES ALSO UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
The meeting also tackled operational efficiency, vacant director positions and infrastructure investment at both facilities.
The municipality says the interventions are intended to protect and strengthen two of Durban’s important tourism and economic assets.
The bigger ambition is to breathe new life into the inner city, attract more investment and create an environment where tourism, business and employment can grow.
For Durban, the stakes are high as the City seeks to make better use of the economic power sitting along its coastline and in the heart of the inner city.
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