Tourism Month and Heritage Month in September 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.
Curated Guiding & Local Trails
If you have deep local knowledge and connections, you can package your insight into guided experiences.
Local Experience Host: Offer visitors something simple and personal, such as a fishing outing, birdwatching session, home-cooked meal, or storytelling experience.
Create a Trail: Compile a walking, food, architecture, art, or heritage trail and charge a small fee as a guide, partnering with local businesses to offer stops along the way.
Become a 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.
Masterclasses & Creative Skill-Sharing
Turn your practical skills, distinctive abilities, and artwork into products visitors want to buy.
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.
Heritage-Themed Products: Turn local history into something people can buy—a booklet, map, postcard set, illustrated print, recipe collection, or locally themed souvenir.
Market Your Creativity: Artists, photographers, designers, and craft producers can benefit from visitors looking for distinctive artwork, photography, jewellery, and other handmade products.
Elevated Hospitality & Bespoke Services
Existing assets and convenience services can be monetised to cater to visitor needs.
Special Occasion Experiences: Create attractive picnic, birthday, proposal, or anniversary packages in scenic locations.
Photography Packages: Offer photo shoots at scenic, cultural, or heritage locations, or provide relaxed holiday photography for families and couples.
Gift Packs & Produce: Assemble small, attractive boxes containing locally made skincare, snacks, and wine-related products, or supply home-grown herbs, flowers, fruit, or vegetables to guesthouses, restaurants, and cafés.
Rent Equipment & Accommodation: Offer short-term visitor accommodation in a spare room or garden cottage (subject to local rules), rent out bicycles, camping gear, surfboards, or hiking equipment, or list unused storage space on Stashed.
Luggage & Convenience Services: Provide services such as luggage collection and delivery, airport transfers, or grocery shopping for visitors.
Digital Support: Help local guesthouses and tourism businesses that need assistance with photography, websites, and social media.
Practical Planning & Financial Advice
“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.
