R500-million tourism bonanza for Durban

The 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) runs from 28 November until 9 December and will see about 15 000 delegates coming to the city. Sue Bannister, deputy head of eThekwini municipality strategic projects unit says that each delegate will spend about R2 500 a day on food, accommodation and beverages.

There have been numerous complaints about hotels and other accommodation venues pushing up prices ahead of the flood of delegates expected in the city. Travellers from various African countries have already lodged complaints about exorbitantly high accommodation costs.

According to the official booking agency Thompsons Africa, meetings were held with hotels, eThekwini municipal officials and Fedhasa in March to discuss pricing and reductions in rates were implemented for delegates. The rates apparently "compare favourably" with other venues where COP meetings have taken place.

Department of Tourism "shocked" by allegations

The Department of Tourism says it is "shocked" by allegations that prices have been raised and by the reports that it intends to appoint a commission of enquiry to look into the tariffs being charged. It has denied that it received complaints or intends investigating accommodation charges.

According to IOL a major security cordon will be placed around Durban's International Convention Centre and a shuttle service will move delegates from the airport to their hotels.

It says the city is hoping to rent about 600 bicycles to delegates during the event.

Read the full article on the R500-million bonanza on www.iol.co.za.
Read the full article on the hotel price probe on www.iol.co.za.