October 7, 2003

By Zobuzwe Ngobese

Durban - Hotel occupancy in Durban had soared in the past month and would continue to be good as the city held yet another world conference this month, John van Rooyen, the president of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said yesterday.

The World Roads Conference, which begins on October 19, comes shortly after the World Parks Conference, which was held at the International Convention Centre over 10 days in September.

Van Rooyen said apart from the conference, the month of September had been boosted by the soccer and rugby events, which brought a lot of revenue for the hotels industry and the KwaZulu-Natal economy in general

"We are looking forward to a good October as the whole tourism industry would be boosted by visiting delegates," he said.

The World Roads Conference, which takes place over seven days, is expected to draw more than 2 000 local and international delegates.

Among other things, the congress will forge closer co-operation between developed and developing countries.

Logan Maistry, the spokesperson for KwaZulu-Natal's transport department, said the province would get the opportunity to showcase its roads infrastructure projects.