Durban may have banned beachgoers from setting foot on its many beaches, but the north coast tourist town of St Lucia is welcoming visitors on to its shores with open arms.

In a bid to revive tourism, St Lucia, renowned for being a beach, bush and wetland haven, has been encouraging visitors to return to its beaches since the government recently permitted leisure travel. Enticing pictures of bathers enjoying leisure time at the beach have been posted in recent days to the St Lucia Town Facebook page.

“Our beaches are open ... come visit,” stated one post.

Isimangaliso Wetland Park spokesperson Bheki Manzini told SowetanLIVE's sister publication TimesLIVE: “The beaches are open, subject to lockdown level 3 directives.

“Swimming is allowed at designated beaches.”

Beaches that fall under eThekwini municipality's jurisdiction are still closed.

Municipal spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said last week, after beachgoers were caught on camera fleeing law-enforcement officials at a beach north of Durban, that they were closed until further notice.

“The only thing allowed is for you to go and walk. For groups to go to the beach, spend time and sit, is not allowed because that is a recipe for disaster,” he said.

The eThekwini region has been identified as a Covid-19 hotspot in KwaZulu-Natal.

TimesLIVE