20 Jan 2026

Building South Africa’s Tourism Skills Pipeline

South Africa’s tourism sector is recovering unevenly, held back by limited funding and a shortage of skilled workers. To add to this challenge, many young people interested in hospitality have little exposure to the full range of roles available, while existing staff often receive minimal ongoing development. The result is high turnover, inconsistent service and a shortage of individuals ready to step into management or specialist positions.

For resorts on the outskirts of urban centres that rely heavily on nearby communities, these challenges are especially pressing. Developing a structured skills pipeline is essential not only for the sector’s recovery, but for its long-term resilience.

Hospitality as a Vehicle for Skills and Community Development

Hotels, resorts and game reserves are favourably positioned to train the next generation of hospitality professionals and equip them with skills that can be applied across the industry. Formal and on-the-job training in areas such as guest services, culinary operations, maintenance, guiding, environmental management, reservations and digital administration can strengthen local economies and support communities that are critical to nature-based tourism.

This is already happening across the Dream Hotels and Resorts portfolio, where structured training has been prioritised. Year to date, 86.57 percent of employees across the group, including both permanent and temporary staff, have completed training. The programmes address specific skills gaps at each property, covering culinary, housekeeping, guest experience and operational support. The goal is to ensure that employees can excel in their roles, improve service delivery and enhance guest satisfaction.

Aligning Investment with Sustainable Outcomes

The global tourism sector is increasingly recognising the value of sustainable hospitality, highlighted during recent G20 discussions where leaders emphasised the importance of linking investment with workforce development. There is growing consensus that tourism growth depends not only on infrastructure, but on developing the people who operate and support these assets.

South Africa’s portfolio of bankable tourism opportunities illustrates the potential for growth but also underscores the need for frameworks that connect funding, skills development and community upliftment. Without deliberate investment in human capital, funding risks producing short-term results rather than long-term impact.

Dream Hotels and Resorts’ model reflects this thinking. Training is aligned with operational needs and community development priorities, ensuring that employees gain multi-functional experience and that surrounding communities benefit from expanded economic participation.

Preparing a Future Ready Workforce

To secure long-term stability, South Africa’s tourism sector must focus on training that goes beyond front of house skills. A future ready workforce requires competence in environmental stewardship, maintenance, leisure and recreation management, operations and financial administration. Resorts that commit to developing multi-skilled teams reduce their reliance on external recruitment, build succession pipelines and strengthen resilience during economic fluctuations.

Dream Hotels and Resorts is also helping young people begin their careers in hospitality. In the 2025 to 2026 financial year, the group has 48 interns placed across its properties. Of those who have completed their work integrated learning, 6 percent have already been absorbed into full-time employment. This creates stability for households, supports income growth and ensures a steady flow of talent into the industry.

Structured skills development also strengthens community ties. When hospitality assets operate as hubs that combine accommodation, training and community engagement, they evolve from simple destinations into economic anchors.

Expanding Access Through Partnerships

Partnerships play an essential role in sustaining the tourism skills pipeline. Dream Hotels and Resorts secured a discretionary grant from CATHSSETA which provides for 30 interns and 14 unemployed learners. The group also participates in the Touching Dreams initiative, delivered in partnership with Boundless and YES4YOUTH, which supports an additional 20 learners. These partnerships extend training access and ensure consistency across the group.

A Sector Built on People

Focusing on human capital alongside sustainable operations is key to creating a tourism sector that drives economic growth and strengthens communities. The work being carried out across Dream Hotels and Resorts demonstrates how hospitality can serve as a catalyst for skills development, community empowerment and long-term resilience. Investing in people remains as important as investing in infrastructure and it is central to building a stronger, more inclusive tourism economy.