Club Med South Africa: a game-changer for KwaZulu-Natal's tourism landscape

"KwaZulu-Natal is ready to reclaim its place on the global tourism stage".

These are the words of Olivier Perillat-Piratoine, the managing director of Club Med Southern Africa, ahead of the launch of Club Med South Africa at Tinley Manor Beach, north of Durban.

The all-inclusive resort is set to open on July 4. Perillat-Piratoine was speaking during an exclusive site visit with Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille and members of the media ahead of Africa’s Travel Indaba.

“We’re in the midst of creating a new tourism hub for South Africa outside of the polarised travel landscape,” he said.

Perillat-Piratoine noted that, instead of investing in Cape Town, Johannesburg or areas such as the Kruger, Club Med chose KwaZulu-Natal because of its year-round warm climate, compared to Cape Town, which offers warmer weather for only about five months of the year.

He added that KZN’s appeal lies in its ability to provide both beach and bush experiences within close proximity.

“We have been pioneering the hospitality industry for nearly 75 years. That comes in terms of opening new destinations where no one goes, but it also comes in disrupting and transforming the hospitality landscape. Club Med created the all-inclusive concept.

“Club Med created sports and activities under one roof, in the vicinity of the hotel, and I think Club Med in South Africa will create something new. It’s taken tremendous coordination to make this a success.”

He also revealed that 40 different markets have already shown interest in booking holidays in South Africa. 

Perillat-Piratoine noted that South African travellers currently account for the highest booking volumes, mostly for short stays, while international tourists have booked longer stays.

“I cannot wait for South Africans to experience the brand," he said. 

According to Chris du Toit from the Collins Group, the resort project came in under budget after 4.5 million man-hours.

“Between this beach resort and the safari lodge we are developing near Pongola, we are all conservationists at heart and it has been a great success to do this in an environmentally responsible way. We basically took an old sugar cane farm and converted it into a lush forest,” he said.

Du Toit estimated that between 600 and 650 permanent jobs will be created at the resort with 1000 tourists expected to land at King Shaka International Airport weekly.

Meanwhile, De Lille celebrated the arrival of the country’s first Club Med resort.

Highlighting a powerful surge in investor confidence, the Minister emphasised that the partnership between the global hospitality giant and Collins Residential is a "great example" of how strategic investment can fuel national economic growth.

A vote of confidence in South African Tourism

The minister noted that the presence of an international powerhouse like Club Med serves as a beacon for global markets.

For de Lille, the project is more than just a luxury getaway, it is a testament to the country's viability as a premier investment destination.

“The investor confidence is there, we just need to produce more products for investment. To have new products like Club Med that you can showcase to the rest of the world always helps. People are curious and they want new experiences.”

She added that the backing of prestigious international brands is a vital signal to the world.

“The importance of international brands like Club Med backing South Africa shows that there is investor confidence in the country.”

The power of public-private partnerships

The development is the result of a seamless collaboration between the government and the private sector.

By working together, these entities are diversifying South Africa’s tourism portfolio, offering both locals and international visitors more variety than ever before.

“This is a great example of a public-private partnership. A successful one whereby local partners and government come together. It is assisting us overall to diversify and produce new tourism products for South Africans and for our international tourists where people now have a choice.”

Interestingly, the resort is already proving to be a hit with the domestic market. The recent Middle East conflict, soaring jet fuel prices and increase in cost of living has resulted in South Africans opting for stays closer to home. 

According to the Minister, since bookings opened last year, the majority of reservations have been made by South Africans.

"Unless you have a deep pocket, you won't be able to afford a holiday with high prices of jet fuel and expensive plane tickets. South Africans are going to stay home and I can just see them flocking here.

"This is better than Mauritius, we've also got our warm water here. I love Mauritius, it's a beautiful country but we are very happy with this new product," she said.