GQEBERHA – The deteriorating state of Nelson Mandela Bay’s beachfront infrastructure is contributing to declining tourism numbers and damaging the metro’s reputation as a destination.

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO, Denise van Huyssteen, said the condition of the beachfront is a major concern.

“The state of Nelson Mandela Bay’s beachfront is of great concern and the steady deterioration of critical infrastructure is eroding the metro’s appeal as a tourism destination,” she said.

She warned that the continued neglect of critical infrastructure along the beachfront is eroding the city’s appeal to both local and international visitors.

“Tourism in Nelson Mandela Bay has not recovered to pre-COVID levels and very concerningly is continuing to decline,” she said.

In 2019, the metro attracted more than 300 000 foreign tourists and over 2.7 million domestic tourists.

However, by 2024, foreign visitor numbers had dropped to around two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels, while domestic tourism had more than halved.

According to Van Huyssteen, several factors are driving the decline, including safety concerns and deteriorating municipal infrastructure.

“This is due to a number of factors, among which include the perception that the metro is an unsafe location; the declining state of its electricity, water and sanitation infrastructure; and the general state of roads, lighting, signage and other aesthetics,” she said.

She described the beachfront as one of the metro’s most important tourism assets and said its condition directly affects the city’s ability to attract visitors and host major events.

“The beachfront is a critical natural tourism asset and as such needs to be safe and secure, clean and well maintained in order to attract both domestic and international tourists,” she said.

Van Huyssteen said that the area plays an important role in hosting international events such as Ironman, the Skal World Congress and the Lifesaving World Championships, all of which contribute significantly to the local economy.

“These types of events deliver meaningful economic and tourism benefits as it attracts a high influx of international and domestic visitors, driving occupancy across hotels and guesthouses, boosting restaurant and retail activity and creating opportunities for local MSMEs and service providers,” she said.

However, she warned that visitors entering the beachfront area are increasingly confronted by visible signs of neglect.

“Visitors are met with potholes, broken signage and barriers on the N2 as they enter Beach Road, and from there they see dilapidated buildings and poorly maintained amenities along the area,” she said.

Van Huyssteen explained the importance of maintaining Blue Flag beach status, warning that losing it would carry serious reputational, environmental and economic consequences.

“It is absolutely vital that the metro takes urgent actions to ensure that Blue Flag status for its beaches is maintained,” she said.

She warned that a further decline in tourism would negatively affect hotels, restaurants, tour operators, informal traders and other businesses that rely on visitor spending.

“Tourism remains one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s most immediate economic opportunities,” she said. “However, without decisive action, that opportunity is being squandered.”

At a Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality DTA Committee meeting on 21 April, Glenn Pappin also raised concerns about beachfront infrastructure and operations.

Representing the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), Pappin highlighted system failures at Kings Beach, which he said had impacted event safety and reliability.

He also pointed to ongoing security concerns, saying that limited policing resources had forced increased reliance on neighbourhood watch groups and private security to deal with crime, vandalism and vagrancy.

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