HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY DELIVERS MAJOR BOOST TO DURBAN’S TOURISM AND ECONOMY

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – Durban has once again reinforced its status as one of Africa’s leading tourism, events and lifestyle destinations following the successful hosting of the 130th Hollywoodbets Durban July, which delivered a significant boost to the city’s tourism and economy while also strengthening regional tourism partnerships with the Kingdom of Eswatini.

Held at Greyville Racecourse over the weekend, the iconic event drew thousands of visitors to Durban and transformed the city into a vibrant celebration of horse racing, fashion, entertainment, culture and hospitality.

According to eThekwini Municipality, the 2026 edition of the Hollywoodbets Durban July generated strong economic activity across multiple sectors, including hospitality, accommodation, transport, retail, tourism, fashion, entertainment and informal trading.

The municipality said the event attracted an estimated 45 000 attendees, comprising local residents, domestic travellers and international visitors. Direct visitor spending is projected at around R254 million, while the event’s total preliminary economic impact is estimated at approximately R880 million.

The event also supported around 1 270 full-time equivalent jobs across the tourism, hospitality and events value chain, underlining its importance as one of Durban’s biggest tourism and economic drivers.

eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cllr Cyril Xaba described the event as another resounding success for the city.

“The successful hosting of the 130th Hollywoodbets Durban July once again demonstrates Durban’s ability to deliver world-class events that drive tourism, stimulate economic growth and create meaningful opportunities for our people,” said Xaba.

“We are proud to have welcomed thousands of visitors to our city, showcasing not only an exceptional horse racing spectacle but also Durban’s renowned hospitality, vibrant cultural scene and thriving creative industries.”

This year’s theme, “Country Allure,” brought together timeless countryside elegance and contemporary African fashion, with racegoers embracing the theme in style. Fashion remained one of the key highlights of the event, with nine emerging designers from the Durban Fashion Fair Rising Stars Programme showcasing their collections to buyers, media and industry leaders.

On the track, Note To Self, trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by Richard Fourie, claimed victory in Africa’s greatest horse race after a thrilling finish. Wish List finished second, followed by King Pelles in third. The win marked Snaith’s sixth Hollywoodbets Durban July title and Fourie’s fourth triumph in the prestigious race.

Beyond the racecourse, the Hollywoodbets Durban July weekend spilled into Durban’s wider tourism landscape, with visitors enjoying beaches, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, family attractions and other experiences across the city.

Durban Tourism Deputy Director Winile Mntungwa said the event once again showcased Durban’s ability to attract visitors from across South Africa and beyond through a winning mix of horse racing, fashion and entertainment.

She noted that popular precincts such as Florida Road and Davenport were buzzing throughout the weekend, while visitors also explored township experiences, adventure offerings and Durban’s iconic beachfront promenade.

Mntungwa said the benefits of the event extended far beyond the racecourse, creating a ripple effect for local restaurants, small businesses and Durban’s wider creative economy through increased spending and job creation.

Accommodation establishments across Durban also recorded strong demand during the weekend, with hotel occupancy projected to reach approximately 80 percent, giving the hospitality industry a welcome winter-season boost.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July also served as an important platform for regional tourism collaboration and media engagement, with Eswatini Tourism Authority leveraging the event to strengthen destination partnerships and cross-border storytelling.

Eswatini Tourism Marketing Manager Wakhile Zwane said the departure of a group of Eswatini journalists to the Durban July Experience marked another important milestone in strengthening regional tourism partnerships.

He said the initiative, made possible through collaboration between the Eswatini Tourism Authority, Durban Tourism, the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, and Eswatini Air, reflects the growing importance of partnerships, authentic storytelling and regional destination promotion in advancing tourism growth.

Zwane said such collaborations are critical in amplifying destination visibility, building stronger tourism networks and ensuring that regional travel experiences are shared through authentic African voices.

On the sidelines of the event, Eswatini Travel News also caught up with Miss South Africa 2025, Qhawekazi Mahlangu, who spoke passionately about the importance of regional and African journalism in shaping the continent’s narrative.

She highlighted the need for African storytellers and media practitioners to continue telling the continent’s stories in their own context, while ensuring that African voices and perspectives are represented on some of the continent’s biggest stages.

Qhawekazi, who turned heads in a bespoke look by House of Nala, said platforms such as the Hollywoodbets Durban July are not only significant for fashion and entertainment, but also for elevating African identity, storytelling and cultural representation.

The municipality further praised the integrated efforts of Metro Police, the South African Police Service, emergency services, private security, traffic management teams and other municipal departments for ensuring the successful delivery of the event.

As Durban continues to build on the success of the Hollywoodbets Durban July and other major events, city officials say the focus remains on growing the visitor economy, attracting investment, creating jobs and positioning Durban as Africa’s premier tourism and events destination.

For Eswatini, the event also demonstrated the value of regional partnerships in opening new tourism pathways, strengthening destination marketing and creating opportunities for local media to tell travel stories that connect audiences across borders.