Hollywoodbets Durban July leads the way in KZN tourism surge
Models show off designs that were created in line with the Hollywoodbets Durban July’s theme Marvels of Mzansi at the media launch for the horseracing event at Westown, Shongweni yesterday.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
KwaZulu-Natal is experiencing a significant tourism surge this winter, with the Hollywoodbets Durban July leading a packed calendar of cultural, sporting, and film-related events. These events are expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and inject millions into the local economy.
EThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba yesterday announced the City’s state of readiness to host Africa’s premier horse racing and fashion event, set to take place at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday.
“We anticipate R278 million in direct spend and close to R700 million contribution to the GDP. This will create over 4,000 jobs,” said Xaba of the event's economic impact.
eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba speaks to the media at the launch event for the Hollywoodbets Durban July a Westown, Shongweni yesterday.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
Hotel occupancy is expected to reach 80%, with over 50,000 local and international visitors expected to descend on Durban for the event.
“The Hollywoodbets Durban July is more than a race – it is a catalyst for social cohesion as it unites South Africans through the passion of sport, the expression of cultural pride, and the glamour of fashion,” Xaba said.
To ensure safety, Xaba confirmed that “our law enforcement agencies have developed an integrated safety plan, supported by the private security industry. Visitors are guaranteed a safe stay in the city with high police visibility, particularly around the Greyville precinct and other strategic sites across the municipality.”
The event’s theme, Marvels of Mzansi, celebrates South Africa’s cultural heritage and diversity.
The Durban July Fashion Experience, hosted in collaboration with the Hollywood Foundation, will feature 25 designers. The programme is divided into three categories: the Young Designers Awards with 10 student finalists; the Durban Fashion Fair Rising Stars with nine emerging designers who will share R250,000 for business development; and the Invited Designer Showcase with six established designers, four of whom are graduates of the city’s Fashion Development Programme.
“Through this event, these designers will get exposure to thousands of attendees and potential buyers,” said Xaba.
The Durban July will also be supported by city-wide activations and spin-off events including music events such as Fact Durban Rocks, Any Given Sunday, Anywhere in the City, and Mojo’s July Weekend to spread festivities across the townships and suburbs.
KZN's broader winter tourism season has also gained momentum. According to the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTAFA), the province is expecting a 12–15% increase in domestic arrivals this July compared to 2024, translating to around R500 million in tourism-related contributions.
“July will deliver a substantial surge in domestic travel, thanks to the alignment of the school holidays, hallmark events and our temperate winter climate,” said KZNTAFA Interim CEO Sibusiso Gumbi.
Gumbi added that the Hollywoodbets Durban July alone is expected to bring in significant tourism spend.
At KZNTAFA’s hospitality marquee at Greyville, guests will enjoy an exclusive fashion installation curated by top KZN designers in collaboration with cultural curators, ahead of the Simon Mabhunu Sabela Awards on 19 July.
The North Coast is also benefitting, with the Durban July Ballito Experience in uMhlali and Westbrook offering fashion showcases and networking opportunities in partnership with the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
The South Coast, meanwhile, has drawn crowds for the Sardine Run and will host the Coastal Seafood Flavours Festival on 26 July. “We have had an incredible start to our winter season with the arrival of the Sardine Run,” said Dr Vusumuzi Sibiya, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise.