The eThekwini Municipality’s flagship and much-anticipated beachfront development, the Durban Amusement Park, has reached an advanced stage as the proposed R980-million family amusement attraction, entertainment and leisure development has now secured approval for project development funding from a development finance institution. Additionally, the project has become one of the key tourism infrastructure developments supported by the National Department of Tourism.
With funding approved, the development has completed its design stage, and technical planning work is under way. Statutory development work will follow and is expected to run to the end of the first quarter of 2027, with construction to follow.
This approval is a critical step towards construction as it confirms institutional confidence. The development finance institution has completed its assessment of the project and approved the funding. It also funds the statutory work and supports the detailed planning and technical aspects. The approval strengthens the city’s position as it highlights the alignment of national government, the development finance sector and the municipality.
The Durban Amusement Park development has already enjoyed national recognition as the project was selected by the National Department of Tourism through its 2026 call for projects and included among the key tourism infrastructure developments. The City submitted the project as an investment-ready project, and its inclusion confirms its alignment with national tourism priorities.
The project was also showcased at the South African Tourism Investment Summit, which provided national exposure.
The exciting development is planned for the former Durban Funworld site, as part of the central beach precinct, under a long-term development lease with the municipality. It will bring back a permanent, ride-led attraction to a beachfront that has not had one since Funworld closed.
The park is planned to open with multiple world-class rides, together with an extended reality and digital zone, a curated retail offering, and an upgraded events-focused amphitheatre. The mix of indoor and outdoor attractions allows it to trade year-round, including on wet-weather days and in the evenings.
The Golden Mile already draws more than 17-million promenade visits a year. The park is designed to give those visitors more reasons to stay longer, return more often and spend more in surrounding hotels, restaurants and other tourism businesses.
The park is planned to open with multiple world-class rides, together with an extended reality and digital zone, a curated retail offering, and an upgraded events-focused amphitheatre.
The development is expected to create about 1,400 jobs across construction and operations, with local small businesses built into the park’s supply chain. It is the entertainment centrepiece of more than R2-billion in investment spent or committed on Durban’s beachfront.
The municipality will continue to guide the project through the statutory and approval processes that apply to it.
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