The Tourism industry is a key contributor to the KwaZulu-Natal economy. The province’s tourism attractions, perhaps less well known internationally, surpass the national norm in many respects and are structured around four components, the coastal holiday areas with their magnificent beaches, sunshine, boating, surfing and fishing; the wildlife game parks in the north; the Drakensberg Mountains and the historical battlefields.
Two World heritage sites have been declared recently: the Greater Lucia Wetlands Park, and Ukhahlamba/Drakensberg Mountain Reserve. Both offer interesting opportunities for investors and especially for small businesses. The attractiveness lies in the unique combination of bio-diversity, impressive scenery, all-year climate and its rich mosaic of exciting cultures and history. Its competitive advantage is that it has a monarchy that can be used to support tourism development. Zulu cultural village activity and the African township experience have emerged strongly as new areas of interest that needs to be marketed.