Efforts have intensified to better incorporate townships and villages into South Africa’s mainstream tourism economy as key stakeholders in the sector seek to overcome constraints such as safety perceptions, lack of infrastructure investment and limited representation in destination marketing.
The South African Township and Village Tourism Association (SATOVITO), which represents over 1 000 tourism businesses, is aiming to develop 45 tourism routes linking townships and villages to mainstream destinations this year.
In a presentation to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism in June, SATOVITO’s Head of Stakeholder Relations, Lusanda Fibi, pointed out that, despite rich cultural and heritage value, township and village tourism remains sidelined by poor tourism infrastructure, limited investment, safety concerns and minimal market access.
A SATOVITO member survey conducted in May and June found that the biggest infrastructure constraints are poor road access (cited by 73.7% of respondents), poor safety and security (65.8%) and inadequate signage (57.9%).
Fibi told Tourism Update that township tourism plays a “crucial role” in showcasing the diversity and cultural richness of South Africa beyond traditional tourist hubs.
“This focus helps in diversifying visitor experiences and supporting local economies,” he explained.
Sidelined from mainstream tourism
In addition to the concerns identified by SATOVITO, limited representation of township experiences in mainstream tourism channels is a challenge, said Siphiwe Ngwenya, Founder of The Maboneng Township Arts Experience.
“Many itineraries are still designed from the top down with little input from local operators, making it hard for authentic community-based experiences to gain visibility. Additionally, township tourism is often treated as an “add-on” instead of being positioned as a high-value cultural experience in its own right,” Ngwenya said.
South Africa’s emphasis on marketing elements such as wildlife, luxury and wine tourism often leave township tourism on the sidelines, he added.
“This leaves out a major part of the country’s cultural and creative identity. Townships are vibrant spaces of innovation, art, design and resilience. Township experiences must be marketed as aspirational, authentic and central to understanding contemporary South Africa.”
Fibi said SATOVITO will aim to leverage its memorandum of agreement with SA Tourism to secure exhibition space for township tourism businesses at trade shows such as Meetings Africa, and enhance capacity-building, events organisation and data-driven strategies.
After gaining a foothold since its establishment in 2023, SATOVITO is aiming to strengthen engagements with tour operators and inbound associations such as SATSA, Fibi added.
“These are crucial partnerships in enhancing township and village tourism, securing funding support and advocating for inclusive tourism development,” he said.
‘Voyeurism’ versus real value
Justin Francis, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of international operator Responsible Travel, cautioned against “voyeuristic” and “exploitative” tourism in townships.
“The best township or village tours are empowering partnerships between local communities and tourists that generate sustainable incomes for people experiencing poverty. At their worst, they are voyeuristic, exploitative and leave everyone with a bad taste in their mouth,” he said.
He emphasised the need for experiences designed with the full participation and consent of local residents.
“We’re visiting their homes so they need to be the ones in control and the economic benefits of our visit need to be widespread throughout the community. There’s a win here for tourists too: done well, township tours can be a good, insightful way to appreciate and understand a vibrant, diverse and hugely significant slice of South African society and – more importantly – make a contribution to it.”
Ngwenya said township tourism entrepreneurs frequently supply unique experiences but receive limited benefits from larger operators.
“Partnerships exist but are often extractive or transactional. What’s needed is a shift toward equitable, co-created partnerships where township-based operators have more say in itinerary design, branding and revenue share.”
