Alderman JP Smith | Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security

South Africa has faced extreme weather, including floods and a rare tornado in KwaZulu-Natal, affecting tourism. Climate change, driven by rising carbon emissions and global temperatures, has increased the frequency and severity of such events, hitting coastal tourism hardest.

Coastal provinces, hubs for tourism, have suffered from intense cyclones and rising sea levels, damaging infrastructure.

The 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods caused R7bn in damage, impacting many tourism businesses and disrupting key facilities like King Shaka International Airport. The 2024 tornado and floods further destroyed holiday homes and disrupted air traffic. Inland areas like Kruger National Park also face damage from floods and droughts.

Sea level rise and storm surges threaten coastal areas, with places like the Garden Route National Park at high risk. Fires and heatwaves add to the risks for coastal tourism destinations.

To mitigate damage, tourism infrastructure needs to be climate-resilient, with improved planning, building codes, early warning systems, and insurance support.