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Tourism as a vehicle to stimulate the LED ofUlundi has not been fully tapped. For instance,
Holiday Inn (Garden court) - Ulundi accommodated on average 5500 international and local
tourists in its facility in the 2007 Financial Year. Over 50% ofthe accommodation facilities
are not used during weekends except during the week where government officials book in for
meetings, workshops and seminars (Joris, Pers. Comm., Tuesday, 24-12-2007).
According to Amafa about 5940 tourists visit the interpretive centre and King Dingane's
capital, Mgungundlovu; a doubling of figures for the previous year. Amafa KwaZulu-Natal
projected that this centre may attract about 24000 tourists by 2008 (www.emakhosini.co.za).
The municipality considers tourism as a key role player in local economic development
(LED). However, a tourism marketing strategy for Ulundi that seeks to link the landscape
and cultural heritage has not been fully developed.
The municipal management indicated that in the process ofreviewing the LED for Ulundi, a
more conducive environment for public participation has been created. After its dissolution
for a long time, the Community Tourism Association (CTA) was reconstituted in early 2007
to steer the affairs of tourism in Ulundi. As an important component of economic
development, the municipal budget must at this stage make provision for tourism in its next
budget (Buthelezi, Per. Comm., Tuesday, 06-02-2007d).
The Zululand District Municipality [ZDM] views Ulundi municipal area as an important role
player in tenns of potential economic viability in agriculture, tourism and general businesses.
According to the planning unit of the Zululand District Municipality. the districL with
particular reference to Ulundi, has a number of outstanding primary attractions, which have
still not been appropriately developed and packaged to confer local economic benefits
(Sibiya, Pers. Comm., Tuesday. 2I-02-2006a). It is useful to understand what the main
attractions ofZululand are, in seeking to match product development opportunities with those
attractions based on tourism market demand.
Like Ulundi, Zululand is different from some of its neighbouring municipalities in that it is
not a coastal destination and cannot offer coastal tourism experiences. The Ulundi Local
Municipality falls across two relatively well-kno....n tourism destinations. that is. the
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