KZN’s Tour Operator Skills Development Programme Gains Momentum in May
SATSA and the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) hosted a 5-day in-person workshop last week as part of the 2025 iteration of their Tour Operator Development Programme.
The initiative, which commenced with set of online selection workshops and received 172 applications across all 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal, aims to upskill 40 selected tour operators on a seven-month, fully subsidised journey to success.
"The overwhelming response to our initial call for applications demonstrates the tremendous appetite for skills development in our provincial tourism sector," says Rob Hetem, SATSA Board Member and lead facilitator for the programme. "We're particularly encouraged by the strong representation from women-owned businesses and startups."
40 tourism SMMEs were selected post the initial online workshops, and these participants will benefit from comprehensive support throughout 2025 on everything from personal development and goal setting to operations management, route development and collaboration, compliance and contracting, presentation skills and customer service excellence.
Industry experts from WeTravel, Sigma International, Spartan Finance and SATSA's own leadership team delivered valuable insights through guest presentations.
Kim Taylor, SATSA’s Strategic Communication and Projects Manager – who presented a session on marketing and networking – says that consistent engagement, personalised coaching, mentorship, as well as close collaboration with KZN EDTEA, local tourism boards and private partners really set the programme apart.
“A lot of work has gone into designing this programme,” says Taylor. “So, we have to give a massive shoutout to everyone involved. Thanks to their contributions, small operators will benefit from live project simulations, job shadowing opportunities with established operators, and facilitated access to industry networking events. It is, hopefully, everything they need to establish a successful, sustainable enterprise in KZN.”
SATSA COO Hannelie Du Toit agrees.
“This partnership with KZN EDTEA represents a shared vision for creating a more inclusive and sustainable tourism economy. By equipping emerging operators with the right skills and connections, we're not just developing businesses – we're strengthening the entire KZN and South African tourism ecosystem."
For Hetem, the programme addresses a critical need in the tourism value chain. By ‘professionalising’ the operations of smaller tourism businesses, it enhances their readiness to engage with international markets, creating product diversity, employment opportunities and ensuring tourism benefits flow to local communities.
“Programmes like these are the foundation of a thriving, inclusive tourism industry," says Hetem. "When we invest in skills development and business growth for emerging operators, we're investing in KwaZulu-Natal's future as a world-class destination."
The Tour Operator Development Programme continues until November 2025, with both mid-term evaluations and end-of-programme assessments.
