The coastal city of Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal is gearing up to welcome delegates for the highly anticipated Tourism Investment Forum Africa (TIFA) 2025, set to run from 27–29 August 2025 at Thembela Events Venue. With the theme “Tourism and Infrastructure Investment: Driving Economic Transformation and Enhancing Community Well-Being,” the forum is positioned as a catalyst for connecting global investors with Africa’s high-potential tourism and infrastructure projects.
Organized by Millvest Advisory and hosted in partnership with the City of uMhlathuze, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority, and Brand South Africa, TIFA 2025 will convene around 200 dignitaries, investors, developers, multinational corporations, and tourism stakeholders from across the globe. The event is expected to showcase Africa’s emerging tourism and infrastructure pipeline, with Richards Bay providing a case study of a city transforming itself into a destination for both business and leisure.
The three-day programme includes:
- Day 1 (27 Aug): Investment project site visits to major catalytic projects around Richards Bay.
- Day 2 (28 Aug): Plenary sessions and breakout discussions focused on financing, policy, PPPs, and destination development.
- Day 3 (29 Aug): Exhibitions, B2B meetings, and deal-room engagements.
Spotlight on Investment Projects
Delegates will tour shovel-ready developments such as The Ridge Development, the Steel Bridge Gateway, the proposed Richards Bay International Conference Centre Precinct, and the Waterfront Precinct Development, among others. These projects, many valued at over a billion rand, are part of a wider transformation agenda for the city.
His Worship, the Mayor Councillor Xolani Ngwezi
His Worship Cllr Xolani Ngwezi, Mayor of the City of uMhlathuze, emphasized the city’s readiness to host: “We are very excited. We are ready. All our guests have been informed and about 97% have already confirmed their attendance. We are also ensuring security preparedness, not because we expect challenges, but because we want our guests to feel safe in a city that is opening its doors to the world.”
The mayor highlighted several transformative projects:
- The Ridge Development: A mixed-use precinct including 400 estate houses, a five-star hotel, and shopping malls, valued at over R1 billion.
- Steel Bridge Project: A R124 million landmark adjacent to the waterfront, complemented by a billion-rand water fund project.
- Richards Bay International Conference Centre (ICC): A billion-rand project designed to anchor MICE tourism.
- Waterfront Precinct Development: A 153.7-hectare mixed-use development.
- Relocation of Richards Bay Airport: From its current 7-hectare site to a 400-hectare location, linked to the TIFA site, with R19.5 million allocated for land purchase, though R65 million is needed overall.
The mayor confirmed that most of the groundwork for these projects has been completed, with implementation expected through public-private partnerships (PPPs). “We already have a pipeline of investment opportunities worth over R350 billion, with industrial projects already landing in the city,” he said.
While Richards Bay is traditionally known as an industrial and port city with Africa’s deepest port and a strategic location serving Mozambique and the broader SADC region, the municipality is equally committed to tourism. The mayor pointed to local assets such as beaches, nature reserves, and historical sites like Escalade, linked to the heritage of King Cetshwayo. Its proximity to iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Big Five game areas further cements its tourism appeal.
The planned airport relocation is seen as critical for unlocking tourism flows. “The airport will make it easier to connect anyone in the country with Richards Bay, but also with surrounding tourism destinations. This project is strategically vital for us,” Ngwezi explained.
On sustainability, the mayor reaffirmed the city’s green commitment: “It is very important that we ensure we green our areas because of issues around climate change. Many of the projects in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone are designed to reduce carbon emissions, and as a city, we must contribute to this global effort.”
TIFA 2025 is not only about showcasing projects; it’s about repositioning Africa’s secondary cities as investment-ready hubs. With exhibitors such as the National Department of Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority, and Richards Bay IDZ, the forum is expected to strengthen confidence in Africa’s capacity to deliver bankable projects.
For Richards Bay, the event is both a milestone and a launchpad. As Mayor Ngwezi put it: “This is not only an industrial city, but also a port city, a tourism destination, and the next investment hub. We can’t wait to receive our visitors and show them the opportunities that lie here.”
