But lots of cleaning up was done and then there was uShaka and some notable inner-city reclamation projects and Durban stopped looking so tarty.

On the other hand what used to be little scenic Umhlanga, has it’s own industrial area now, plus Hillbrow-type blocks of flats around Gateway and all those tarty mansions on the ridge in what used to be gently swaying sugarcane. Throw in some perennial storms exposing those very rocky beaches and things don’t look so rosy for the once cheeky upstart.

In anticipation of the, try not to yawn, 2010 Soccer World Cup, Durban embarked on a serious facelift to it’s dodgy beachfront. Following demolition and refurbishment, rearrangement of facilities and an impressive walkway, hotels have expressed how it was worth the wait. Hoteliers say Durban's beachfront occupancy rates are exceeding those of Umhlanga and Ballito by as much as 10%. Deputy President of the Durban Chamber of Commerce, Mike Jackson, said there had been a "complete turnabout" by locals and tourists in regard to the beachfront and that the corporate trade was now balanced with holidaymakers.

There is renewed interest in spending time at the Durban beachfront, with big companies looking to buy land and existing hotels spending millions on upgrades. Hoteliers report an increase in locals coming down to the city beaches, especially at weekends. Cycle and pedestrian paths have also helped in attracting Durbanites back to the beachfront.

Enter a very motivated Umhlanga Rocks: not used to being upstaged by the tired old city, plans have been carried out to perk up some of the urban sag in Umhlanga’s infrastructure. R70million has been spent on the 2.8km promenade which stretches from the Breakers Resort in the north to Durban View Road in the south, with the paving similar to that at the Durban central beachfront. However, one little detail the Durban promenade averages at 15m in width, the Umhlanga promenade is about 5m wide. This presents a scenario that will depend on your taste.

On the Umhlanga promenade, wheels are banned. Except prams. No skateboards, rollerblades or bicycles. If you are walking with a stick, that’s good news. If you are in town for the annual student rage parties, it’s off to Gateway with you. In Durban you can bring your twelve wheeler circus cycle to the promenade and juggle wombats on your head if you like, you won’t be in the way. But no official matric rage parties are scheduled for Durban. Gateway has no competition.

Umhlanga has also upgraded roads previously unfriendly to tourist and pedestrian traffic. Roads such as Lagoon Drive and the roads leading from the Ruth First Freeway into central Umhlanga are also being upgraded.

Durban View Park is an important through way to the beach it has been the site of some important changes: The toilet and shower facilities have been upgraded, the park itself will be properly fenced and the walkway has been re-laid with bricks. The car park area has been greatly increased in size and should be completed any day now.

Due to a reputation for accidents, Lagoon Drive has been fitted with a number of speed-calming measures like traffic round-abouts and speed bumps. For example there is a round-about at the intersection with Durban View Road. Pedestrian tables, similar to brick speed bumps have also been added to allow people to walk across, for increased safety.

With the combination of the Matric parties, the usual holiday traffic during the festive season and the much anticipated COP 17 conference in the city, Umhlanga hoteliers are expecting 90% occupancy. Peter Rose, head of Umhlanga Tourism, believes that if holidaymakers haven't yet booked a room, it may well be too late.

Down in Durban those in the hotel industry are equally upbeat in anticipation of the 25000 UN guests arriving. But the city has its sites set even further ahead. The second phase of the upgrade that began before World Cup 2010 is expected to actually transform the city's shoreline from the Country Club beach to Blue Lagoon and will show off Durban’s wide open spaces. It will include restaurants and exciting new shops. It will also involve extending the pedestrian and cycling promenades, and relocating the Laguna Beach paddling pools to Blue Lagoon.

In the final analysis, what’s good for Umhlanga is good for Durban as they spill into each others turf. Many tourists stay in one locality and travel to the other for a change of scenery or simply to take in the attractions unique to that location. So all this bodes well for commercial property in both locations as businesses that have waited it out through the beeping of earth moving equipment, can now reap rewards through the tourism industry’s attraction of conference attendees, party animals and holiday makers. Iron sharpens iron goes the saying. Nothing like a little healthy competition to bring out the best in both nodes.