R735 million uShaka Marine World, on track to open in April next year

urban - the r735 million ushaka marine world, on track to open in april next year, is expected to attract 1.4 million paying visitors during its first year and to grow by 8 percent a year for the next 10 years.

russell stevens, the chief executive of ushaka island management company (usim), said yesterday that the joint venture company was budgeting on an initial turnover of r130 million, which would conservatively double by 2016.

the joint venture comprises the durban-based three cities hospitality group, empowerment company isundu leisure and the us-based profun group.

tom molinar, a three cities director, said that in addition to being a huge attraction for domestic tourists and locals, africa's largest marine theme park was expected to be a drawcard for international visitors, who would account for about 13 percent of the total.

following a recent joint alliance between usim and the international convention centre (icc), which will include ushaka in the conference package, delegates will account for 8 percent of international visitors.

the project is important to the icc, as it will make its job of marketing the city as a conference destination a lot easier, especially for repeat delegates.

the add-on value provided by ushaka is expected to help maintain the icc's competitive advantage against johannesburg and cape town as conference destinations.

molinar said ushaka marine world would succeed where cape town's ratanga junction and johannesburg's gold reef city had struggled, as it was right on durban's beachfront and had the advantage of year-round subtropical weather.


"discussions are also being held with several large companies, many of which have expressed interest in marketing their companies by sponsoring entrance fees, thus enabling usim to implement a range of ticket prices that will make the park affordable," he said.

direct free access will be available from the beach to an 11 250m2 retail wrap-around, comprising 78 speciality stores, about half of which have already been let.

however, an entrance fee will be charged to visit sea world and wet 'n wild world, the park's key attractions.

by december, 17 million cubic metres of water will have been pumped into sea world's underground aquarium, which is being relocated from its present site on durban's beachfront, where the tanks hold only 3.5 million cubic metres.

attractions would include dolphin and seal stadiums, a penguin habitat and a snorkelling lagoon stocked with coral fish, separated from the shark tank by 20cm thick glass, molinar said.

wet 'n world will include a water park with fun rides, a river ride that snakes through a free entrance replica of a 1940 cargo shipwreck with a plethora of restaurants and a lagoon with sandy shores and grass banks that will lure leisure seekers.