Fosun International's (00656) global premium lifestyle resort operator, Mediterranean Resort Group, has officially opened its new Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari Resort in the KwaZulu-Natal province, marking a significant step in the company's accelerated global expansion strategy.

The inauguration ceremony on September 17 drew over 200 guests, including South Africa's Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, Fosun International Chairman Guo Guangchang, Co-CEO and Mediterranean Resort Group Chairman Xu Xiaoliang, Club Med Global CEO Stéphane Maquaire, and Tinley Leisure Chairman Moses Tembe.

During the ceremony, Minister de Lille delivered remarks on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, acknowledging the value Club Med has identified in South Africa, which has translated into tangible employment, skills development, and growth opportunities for local communities. She expressed gratitude for Club Med's professional expertise and international influence brought to the project.

Guo Guangchang noted this marks Club Med's first resort in South Africa, expressing Fosun's ambition to bring more industries to the country and establish benchmark projects that combine economic substance with social impact, deepening the company's connection with Africa over the long term.

Xu Xiaoliang emphasized that Club Med's entry into South Africa represents a key step toward mutually beneficial partnerships with local collaborators. He expressed hopes for developing more acclaimed and commercially successful resorts while deepening cooperation in cultural tourism and biopharmaceutical sectors.

The resort stands as the Mediterranean Resort Group's first dual-experience property globally, combining beachfront accommodation with premium Safari offerings, and represents South Africa's inaugural all-inclusive resort. With total investment exceeding 2 billion rand, it ranks among the most significant tourism developments in the country over the past five decades.

The property features more than 480 rooms, with over 400 located at the beachfront resort and more than 70 at the Vikela Safari Lodge. Guests can experience high-end Big Five wildlife viewing across an 18,000-hectare private reserve, with convenient access approximately 30 minutes from King Shaka International Airport and 45 minutes from Durban.

At the beachfront resort, guests can enjoy surfing at Tinley Manor's Indian Ocean shoreline, with the property introducing the region's first surf school offering activities including surfing, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, and paddle tennis. The resort draws visitors from approximately 30 countries and territories.

The resort's innovative vacation concept places strong emphasis on community impact and environmental protection. During construction, it generated more than 2,300 direct and indirect jobs plus 600 permanent positions, while supporting approximately 1,500 additional roles through suppliers and related industries spanning agriculture, transportation, maintenance, touring, catering, and logistics.

Notably, 84% of beachfront resort staff are South African nationals, while the Vikela Safari Lodge team is fully locally sourced. Through collaboration between Club Med and the Nukakamma Talent Development Centre, over 100 young South Africans have completed training and joined the resort workforce.

The development has incorporated responsible resource management and biodiversity conservation measures, earning a four-star green rating from the South African Green Building Council. The property promotes solar energy adoption, water conservation initiatives, single-use plastic reduction, and food waste prevention programs.

Since initiating its Hong Kong listing process on August 28, the Mediterranean Resort Group has sought to broaden financing channels to support global expansion, new resort development, and brand premiumization strategies. The South Africa resort opening represents the latest milestone in this globalization and upscale positioning strategy.

The group currently operates 69 resorts across more than 40 countries and territories on six continents, targeting 85 properties by 2030 through quality-driven scale expansion.

Several new resorts have opened since early 2026. In April, Club Med's Hangzhou Longwu resort launched as the city's first tea-themed international premium destination, while August saw the groundbreaking ceremony for the Club Med Exclusive Collection Koh Samui resort in Thailand.

Before year-end, Club Med will open its first new Southeast Asian property in nearly two decades, located in Kota Kinabalu. The company's global positioning at rare tourism destinations has also accelerated, with new resort agreements signed since late 2025 across China, Canada, Morocco, Brazil, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Indonesia, and Italy.

Club Med CEO Stéphane Maquaire remarked at the South Africa opening ceremony that the company has been driven by a pioneering spirit for 76 years, exploring new horizons, creating innovative travel experiences, and building lasting partnerships across all destinations where it operates.

The Mediterranean Resort Group emphasized that its accelerated global expansion follows a differentiated approach rather than simple replication, driven by landmark destinations, premium all-inclusive offerings, and localized experiences. The group focuses on rare tourism destinations within high-potential markets, spanning from Indian Ocean coastlines to African Safaris, and from South African local clientele to 30 global markets. The South Africa resort opening represents not only a crucial African foothold but also a pivotal element in achieving the group's strategic vision of 85 resorts worldwide by 2030.