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IOL News
05-08-2025
- Business
- IOL News
No deposit or credit card: New township travel pilot opens up holidays for South Africans
A new township-based travel initiative is aiming to make local holidays more accessible to South Africans who have traditionally been excluded Image: Supplied A new township-based travel initiative is aiming to make local holidays more accessible to South Africans who have traditionally been excluded from resort travel due to financial barriers. Launched by Dream Hotels & Resorts in partnership with TUU Post, the pilot allows residents in Soweto, Alexandra and Katlehong to book curated holidays directly from local stores, without needing credit cards or large upfront payments. Using stokvel contributions, flexible instalment options, and lay-by systems, the initiative is designed to accommodate a broader range of household budgets while supporting community-based businesses acting as booking agents. According to Clyde Keevy, head of leisure sales at Dream Hotels & Resorts, the company is looking to grow its footprint across more communities in the country to further expand access to affordable local travel. 'We've created a model that allows South Africans in every corner of the country to enjoy their own land in the style and comfort synonymous with a Dream Hotels & Resorts experience,' Keevy said. 'Residents can walk into a local business and book a getaway without needing a credit card, long-term contract or a big upfront deposit, which makes all the difference for households managing tight budgets.' The pilot is built on Dream Escapes, a "flexible, month-to-month vacation product that allows customers to accumulate travel credits over time, without the need for credit checks or binding contracts". Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "With more than R50 billion estimated to circulate annually through stokvels in South Africa, the culture of saving collectively and planning as a group aligns well with the Dream Escapes philosophy" One of the first resorts onboard is the Blue Marlin All Inclusive Seascape in KwaZulu-Natal, offering bundled packages that include accommodation, meals and selected activities. A lay-by-style payment option, launched in partnership with LayUp, allows travellers to pay in smaller, interest-free instalments. "While the township travel pilot initiative is still in early days, it's informed by insights from the repositioning of Blue Marlin, which was designed to attract younger, experience-hungry South Africans who are prioritising comfort, entertainment and value over high-end exclusivity." IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
The Star
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Celebrating Africa Day through community-driven hospitality partnerships
Africa Day is a celebration of identity, resilience and the diverse cultural heritage that defines the continent. In South Africa's tourism and hospitality context, it has also become a time of reflection for the sector, particularly around questions of ownership, representation and long-term community benefit. While African destinations have always held global appeal, there is a growing push to shift tourism from something done to communities to something done with and by them. As a result, community-based tourism is gaining momentum as a practical way to drive more inclusive, resilient and authentic travel experiences. Whether it's a small town or community group offering guided hikes through sacred or lesser known areas, a collective of women teaching beadwork and traditional cooking, or a youth-led project hosting storytelling evenings around a firepit, this approach to tourism looks to serve the community and not just the business owner, allowing local people to earn an income, preserve their culture and build pride from within. Crucially, these experiences are often co-created and community-led, rather than imposed or extractive. As such, hospitality providers are increasingly being called on to support these efforts, not only through procurement and employment, but by helping to unlock funding, training and audience access. Group Custodian at Dream Hotels & Resorts, Nick Dickson said the industry needs to evolve its understanding of partnership. 'We've moved beyond the idea that offering jobs to locals is enough. In many rural areas, we're seeing a hunger from communities to take ownership of their tourism narrative, including what stories are told, the offerings that are created and how value is shared,' he said. Dickson highlights a recent example where a small community near one of the group's properties developed a cycling tour initiative after participating in a supplier development programme. The group now caters to domestic and international guests, with guides trained in local history and ecology and mechanics sourced from within the same area. 'The power of that initiative isn't just the income it brings in, but the fact that it came from the community's own vision. We were just a bridge to help them take it further,' he added. There is growing evidence that community-based tourism supports broader development goals. A 2025 systema tic review published in Cogent Social Sciences highlights that community-based tourism in Africa leverages the continent's unique natural and cultural assets to create opportunities for locally based tourism, fostering cultural exchange and contributing to environmental conservation. Dickson notes that in several regions, young people trained through Dream Hotels and Resorts' education and bursary programmes have also gone on to start their tourism micro-enterprises, ranging from drumming workshops to township food walks. 'What excites me most is when you see a guest leave with a deep connection to a place, not just to a lodge or landscape, but to the people and stories they've engaged with. Those are the experiences that change perceptions of our lands and create repeat travellers,' he said. As the tourism sector continues to recover and reimagine itself post-pandemic, Africa Day is a timely reminder that innovation doesn't always come from technology or luxury, but from a true and meaningful engagement with local knowledge, creativity and community-driven ideas.
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Celebrating Africa Day through community-driven hospitality partnerships
Africa Day is a celebration of identity, resilience and the diverse cultural heritage that defines the continent. In South Africa's tourism and hospitality context, it has also become a time of reflection for the sector, particularly around questions of ownership, representation and long-term community benefit. While African destinations have always held global appeal, there is a growing push to shift tourism from something done to communities to something done with and by them. While Africa Day may have come and gone, the conversations it sparks around cultural pride, identity, and inclusive progress are ongoing, especially in the tourism and hospitality space. As a result, community-based tourism is gaining momentum as a practical way to drive more inclusive, resilient and authentic travel experiences. Whether it's a small town or community group offering guided hikes through sacred or lesser known areas, a collective of women teaching beadwork and traditional cooking, or a youth-led project hosting storytelling evenings around a firepit, this approach to tourism looks to serve the community and not just the business owner, allowing local people to earn an income, preserve their culture and build pride from within. Crucially, these experiences are often co-created and community-led, rather than imposed or extractive. As such, hospitality providers are increasingly being called on to support these efforts, not only through procurement and employment, but by helping to unlock funding, training and audience access. Group Custodian at Dream Hotels & Resorts, Nick Dickson said the industry needs to evolve its understanding of partnership. 'We've moved beyond the idea that offering jobs to locals is enough. In many rural areas, we're seeing a hunger from communities to take ownership of their tourism narrative, including what stories are told, the offerings that are created and how value is shared,' he said. Dickson highlights a recent example where a small community near one of the group's properties developed a cycling tour initiative after participating in a supplier development programme. The group now caters to domestic and international guests, with guides trained in local history and ecology and mechanics sourced from within the same area. 'The power of that initiative isn't just the income it brings in, but the fact that it came from the community's own vision. We were just a bridge to help them take it further,' he added. There is growing evidence that community-based tourism supports broader development goals. A 2025 systematic review published in Cogent Social Sciences highlights that community-based tourism in Africa leverages the continent's unique natural and cultural assets to create opportunities for locally based tourism, fostering cultural exchange and contributing to environmental conservation. Dickson notes that in several regions, young people trained through Dream Hotels and Resorts' education and bursary programmes have also gone on to start their tourism micro-enterprises, ranging from drumming workshops to township food walks. 'What excites me most is when you see a guest leave with a deep connection to a place, not just to a lodge or landscape, but to the people and stories they've engaged with. Those are the experiences that change perceptions of our lands and create repeat travellers,' he said. As the tourism sector continues to recover and reimagine itself post-pandemic, Africa Day is a timely reminder that innovation doesn't always come from technology or luxury, but from a true and meaningful engagement with local knowledge, creativity and community-driven ideas.
