Around 35 000 punters and fashionistas are expected to head to the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse for the Durban July this weekend (July 2), with a projected spend of R145 million (€8,5m).

The event is further expected to contribute R362 million (€21,3m) to the GDP. “An estimated 740 people within the tourism and hospitality as well as related value chains industry will get employment because of this event,” said eThekwini Mayor, Mxolisi Kaunda.
“We are excited to host the July experience this year at a physical venue. We are even more excited about the economic spin-offs that this event is going to bring to the city.”

Kaunda said with the economic spin-offs expected, Durban’s economy was “bouncing back”. He said COVID-19 safety protocols were place. 

Stephen Marshall, Gold Circle Event and Marketing Executive said: “This is going to be a major event and prove beneficial to businesses. There are so many businesses that have been negatively impacted over the past two years when we held the event behind closed doors. 

“It has come as a welcome relief that the horseracing, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries can once again benefit from the far-reaching revenues that are generated by the Hollywoodbets Durban July.”

Meanwhile, with the recent COVID-19 relaxed measures that were announced, Kaunda said experts in the sector forecast that over one million tourists are expected to visit Durban during the winter season and that they will directly spend R1.45 billion (€85,4m), with the GDP contribution being R3.6 billion (€212m).