The newly formed KZN Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTFA) – an amalgamation of the former KZN Tourism and KZN Film Commission organisations – promises exciting and vibrant times ahead.

The entity has a mandate to position the province as “Africa’s leading destination” in both the film and tourism sectors and interim KZN Tourism and Film Authority CEO Sibusiso Gumbi is upbeat about the contributions both sectors will add to the economy of the province and the country as a whole.

As part of the amalgamation process, the new entity now boasts a brand new logo that encapsulates the essence of both tourism and film sectors. And the tagline has also changed. It is now ‘’Magical. Zulu Kingdom’’.

Plans are afoot to intensify the entity’s partnership with SA Tourism and the National Film & Video Foundation

In the month of its inception, KZN Tourism and Film Authority has hit the ground running, co-hosting and supporting a number of high-profile events such as the Durban International Film Festival, the Durban Film Mart, the Simon Sabela Film and Television Awards and the Dundee July – all of which brought a much-needed economic boost to the province.

Gumbi said support would be given across both sectors to increase the amount of tourism spend in the province and to develop and transform the film industry.

As part of the Film Tourism Strategy, KZN Tourism and Film Authority will continue its pursuit of lobbying for large film productions and further use of co-production agreements with Canada, Italy, Germany, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Meanwhile, the KZN Tourism and Film Authority has appointed a new board that is headed up by both a woman chair and a deputy. They are Professor Thandi Nzama and Linda Ngcobo respectively. The other board members include Professor Thokozani Nzimakwe, Dr Krishna Naidoo, Musa Mzimela, Nise Malange, Diana Hoorzuk, Sifiso Kalinjani, Paulus Ngcobo and Sithembiso Madlala.