Tourism Month and Heritage Month in September, which honour our rich cultural traditions and history, are timely reminders that tourism is about more than five-star hotels and fine dining.
Heritage can be a source of additional income for individuals and communities by turning local knowledge, practical skills, creativity and connections into products and experiences that visitors are prepared to pay for.
Tourism already contributes significantly to the South African economy. According to the latest Tourism Satellite Account from StatsSA, tourism contributed R361.7 billion, or 4.9%, to GDP in 2024 and created 185,158 additional jobs that year.
In other words, for every R100 produced by the South African economy, tourism generated R4.90, making this sector a larger contributor than utilities, agriculture, and construction.
“These figures highlight the scale of the opportunity, but people don’t need to own a guesthouse, restaurant, or tour company to benefit,” says Sarah Nicholson, head of customer experience at JustMoney.
She offers the following practical tips to start a tourism side hustle using existing assets.
1. Offer accommodation and market it smartly. If you have a spare room, garden cottage, or other space, offer short-term visitor accommodation, subject to local rules. Promote it through reputable accommodation platforms and social media, and encourage satisfied guests to leave reviews.
2. Become a local experience host. Offer visitors something simple and personal, such as a fishing outing, birdwatching session, home-cooked meal, or storytelling experience.
3. Create a trail. Compile a walking, food, architecture, art, or heritage trail and charge a small fee as a guide. Partner with local businesses to offer stops along the way.
4. Rent out equipment. If you own bicycles, camping equipment, surfboards, fishing gear, or hiking equipment, consider renting them to visitors.
5. List photography packages. Offer photo shoots at scenic, cultural, or heritage locations, or provide relaxed holiday photography for families and couples.
6. Sell gift packs. Assemble small, attractive boxes containing locally made skincare, snacks, and wine-related products.
7. Provide a luggage or convenience service. Offer services such as luggage collection and delivery, airport transfers, or grocery shopping for visitors. You can also list your storage space on Stashed.
8. Create a heritage-themed product. Turn local history into something people can buy – a booklet, map, postcard set, illustrated print, recipe collection, or locally themed souvenir.
9. Teach a skill. Offer workshops if you have crafting or musical skills, gardening knowledge, cooking expertise, or other distinctive abilities, such as beekeeping or botanical drawing.
10. Become a local shopping guide. Help visitors discover farmers’ markets, antique shops, vintage clothing stores, and other interesting local businesses, charging for your time or earning referral fees.
11. Offer a special occasion experience. Create attractive picnic, birthday, proposal, or anniversary packages in scenic locations.
12. Help tourism enterprises go online. Many guesthouses and tourism businesses need help with photography, websites, and social media.
13. Sell locally sourced produce. If you grow herbs, flowers, fruit, or vegetables, you can supply guesthouses, restaurants, and cafés.
14. Market your creativity. Artists, photographers, designers, and craft producers can benefit from visitors looking for distinctive artwork, photography, jewellery, and other handmade products.
“Visitors are willing to pay for an experience they cannot easily create for themselves, but it’s important to plan properly before launching your side hustle,” advises Nicholson.
“Calculate what it costs to provide the product or service. Include materials, transport, packaging, equipment, marketing, permits, licences and other approvals, and your time.
“Start small, keep good records, and separate business money from household spending. This makes it easier to check whether your idea is profitable.”
JustMoney is a South African financial services company providing a range of solutions, from loans to insurance, underpinned by the data and coaching individuals need to make good money choices.
JustMoney believes that money is personal, so its support is too. Customers are more than just a number; they are individuals with unique goals and dreams. From securing a loan or protecting what matters, to finally getting a handle on debt, JustMoney provides a personalised experience powered by insights that fit customers’ lives.