More than 200 calls a day for last-minute bookings are being received by tourism centres and accommodation providers ahead of the COP17 Climate Change Conference and Matric Rage – both of which are due to start on Friday, with an estimated 50 000 people pouring into the region.
And demand for accommodation soared to a record high this week, with the vice-president of National Accommodation Association, Heather Hunter, saying they were receiving calls at least every hour during the day, as well as endless e-mail requests from international visitors wanting to make bookings.
Thompsons SA’s Erica Gardner said they were receiving up to 200 calls a day and there were “gaps of accommodation left, but this was now very limited”.
Gardner said rooms were now being sought in outlying areas such as Pietermaritzburg, but which had to be within a one-hour commute from Durban for delegates.
The KwaDukuza Dolphin Coast Tourism Office said they were also receiving up to 200 calls a day from Matric Ragers and COP17 visitors looking for accommodation.
All the hospitality roleplayers said they expect demand to increase into next week, with last-minute enquiries.
With delegates already arriving in Durban this week, the city held a final state-of-readiness walkabout for the media at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, where final touches were being done.
Ethekwini’s mayor, James Nxumalo, said: “We are delighted to be able to host probably the most important and largest conference in Africa ever and to be able to contribute to ensuring we leave our children a legacy that they can be proud of – a legacy that ensures that we reverse the trend towards global warming and ensure we adapt to changing weather and other environmental patterns”.
It has been estimated that there will be about 160 000 accommodation bed-nights and that 495 000 meals will be consumed during the conference period.
The mayor said the city would be abuzz with a feast of side events around COP17, which he described as adding to Durban’s “fun city” reputation. This included a Climate Change Response Expo Centre, which would be open to the public and which would showcase South Africa’s leading environmental projects in response to climate change.
Also planned during the two-week period is the Durban Green Festival, with an action-packed offering of events and activities, concerts, exhibitions and rallies on Durban Beachfront, from uShaka Marine World to The Green Hub at Blue Lagoon, as well as an exciting programme at Durban’s Botanic Gardens.
Civil society groups will debate climate change and environmental issues at The People Space at the University of KZN, while there will be a Climate Change Refugee Camp, a Climate Train, Green Tours, a Day of Action and Concert, as well as a Faith Rally with a Day of Prayer.
Nxumalo said 600 bikes would be made available for delegates and would undoubtedly be a popular transport mode of choice during the conference. - The Independent on Saturday