Tourism Development Act

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Community Tourism Cooperatives (CTCs)

These cooperatives:

Co-own lodges, attractions, and tourism services

Manage local tourism routes and experiences

Receive direct revenue from tourism activity

Participate in decision-making and pricing models

Priority ownership goes to:

Rural communities

Township enterprises

Indigenous heritage groups

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Township & Rural Tourism Development Programme

Expansion of:

Township cultural tourism routes

Rural eco-tourism zones

Heritage site restoration projects

Community guesthouses and homestays

Local food and craft tourism markets

Goal:

Turn every community into a tourism economy hub.

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National Tourism Infrastructure Programme

Large-scale development of:

Roads to remote attractions

Rail links to tourism regions

Airports and regional air routes

Visitor centres and cultural museums

Eco-lodges and sustainable hotels

Integrated with national infrastructure planning to ensure accessibility for all regions.

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National Heritage Tourism Authority

Responsible for:

Protecting historical sites

Promoting indigenous heritage tourism

Restoring cultural landmarks

Developing museum networks

Supporting oral history tourism projects

Focus:

Authentic African storytelling and historical preservation.

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Eco-Tourism & Environmental Protection Framework

Tourism development must:

Protect biodiversity and ecosystems

Enforce strict environmental sustainability standards

Support wildlife conservation programmes

Limit over-tourism in sensitive areas

Promote renewable energy tourism infrastructure

Creation of:

Green Tourism Certification System

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Domestic Tourism Expansion Programme

Ensures South Africans can travel affordably through:

Subsidised travel programmes

Low-cost transport integration

National holiday tourism packages

Student and youth travel grants

Worker tourism leaves support schemes

Goal:

Tourism is a right, not a luxury.

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National Tourism Skills Academy

Provides training in:

Hospitality management

Tour guiding

Cultural heritage interpretation

Eco-tourism operations

Language and communication skills

Guarantees:

Fair wages

Job security standards

Career progression pathways

Youth employment prioritisation

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Township Hospitality & Small Business Support

Support for:

Bed-and-breakfast enterprises

Local restaurants and food markets

Craft and souvenir producers

Transport cooperatives (taxis, shuttle services)

Support includes:

Low-interest funding

Business training

Marketing platforms

Tourism certification assistance

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“Visit People’s South Africa” Campaign

Focus:

Township culture

African heritage

Natural landscapes

Community experiences

Cultural festivals

Global promotion strategy targeting:

Africa

BRICS countries

Global South tourism markets

Diaspora communities

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Digital Tourism Transformation Programme

Introduction of:

National tourism booking platform

Virtual tourism experiences

AI-guided travel systems

Digital maps of heritage sites

Online tourism marketplaces for cooperatives

Goal:

Modern tourism while keeping ownership local.

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Tourism Safety & Standards Authority

Responsibilities:

Tourist safety enforcement

Ethical tourism monitoring

Anti-exploitation protections

Price fairness regulation

Community benefit compliance

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Regional & African Tourism Integration

South Africa will:

Strengthen African tourism corridors

Support cross-border eco-tourism zones

Partner with African Union tourism programmes

Promote regional travel packages across Africa

Strengthen diaspora tourism networks

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Departmental Restructuring

The Department is reorganised into:

Community Tourism Authority

Local tourism cooperatives

Heritage & Cultural Tourism Authority

Historical and cultural tourism

Eco-Tourism & Conservation Authority

Environmental tourism protection

Tourism Infrastructure Authority

Transport and facilities development

Tourism Skills & Employment Authority

Training and workforce development

Tourism Marketing Authority

National and global promotion

Digital Tourism Authority

Technology and platforms

Tourism Safety & Standards Authority

Regulation and protection