Tourism infrastructure should leave local communities thriving

Infrastructure built in support of tourism should always be designed to deliver lasting benefits to surrounding communities, businesses, and human dignity. Roads and public transport systems between ports of entry and population hubs can also serve commuters and logistics operators, airport expansions often carry large volumes of domestic passengers, and bulk-supply systems built for new tourism precincts can serve nearby communities.

This principle is becoming increasingly important as the sector grows, and with it the need for supporting infrastructure. In 2025, South Africa had 10.5 million international visitors - over 1.5 million more than the previous year. In the first six months of 2026, we have already welcomed over 5.5 million tourists onto our soil, and government has set its sights on a target of 15 million per year by 2030.

Major investments are already underway. These include a R21.7 billion airport infrastructure programme, SANRAL’s ambitious R20 billion N2 Wild Coast Road upgrade in the Eastern Cape, and the Department of Tourism and SANParks’ R81.7 million Agulhas National Park Lighthouse precinct development., Additionally, further projects are due for completion in 2026/27 at Gariep Dam, Songimvelo, the Dwesa and Cwebe nature reserves, and eight more like them. There is also the private redevelopment of Cape Winelands Airport, which will possibly relieve some of the pressure felt by Cape Town International Airport. 

Together, these projects signal earnest efforts to fortify South Africa’s tourism sector as a national priority. The greater opportunity, however, lies in ensuring that all tourism investments also improve access, services, and economic prospects for the residents who call these regions and destinations home.

Turning tourism infrastructure into wider development

The potential for wider community benefits is especially important in rural areas, where tourism infrastructure investments can have the greatest human impact. By driving much-needed development in remote areas and vulnerable communities, capital can be used to build a strong foundation for lasting economic growth, enhanced human dignity, and social progress. This is especially pertinent because in these areas, once established, tourism plays an outsized role in driving economic access and human development. 

For example, new roads and bridges give rural communities access to goods and services that were previously beyond their reach, empowering residents to start and grow small businesses by sourcing materials, moving products, and reaching markets. They also make travel safer, enable emergency services to respond faster, improve access to employment opportunities, and support more reliable public service delivery.

Well-planned tourism infrastructure can then act as a multiplier for further development. Better access and services attract more visitors, which strengthens the case for additional investment in accommodation, attractions, public amenities, and supporting infrastructure in areas with strong potential that may previously have struggled to compete for funding. It is difficult to speak about push and pull factors when local businesses and entrepreneurs do not have the same infrastructure advantage as other areas. 

Places where tourism investment can have an outsized impact

But to determine where tourism investment could be most impactful, we must consider an area’s proven tourism potential, identify clear infrastructure deficits, and determine the scale of the community benefit that is likely to follow.

With this in mind, three key regions merit particular attention:

1. The Wild Coast

The Wild Coast offers exceptional coastal, cultural, and ecological attractions, but access continues to constrain its enormous potential. The route between East London and Durban is long and indirect, and many coastal destinations are difficult to reach from the national road network. The N2 project is intended to shorten travel times and provide new local access roads, but further tourism investment around the route could significantly strengthen tourism demand for its unique destinations. Benefits will also be felt beyond the tourism sector.

1. The Panorama Route

The Panorama Route already attracts large numbers of visitors, but ageing amenities and a limited range of tourism products continue to restrict how long people stay and how much they spend in the area. Work is being done at key sites, but further investment could strengthen the full route and allow more accommodation providers, guides, restaurants, traders, and nearby towns to benefit from the millions of tourists Mpumalanga attracts.

1. Vhembe

Vhembe in northern Limpopo has significant tourism potential through the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site, the Soutpansberg Biosphere, and its many cultural and heritage attractions. However, these are spread across a wide area, weakening the overall visitor journey. Better rural access, clearer tourism routes and signage, and stronger digital connectivity could help community-owned destinations and small businesses draw greater value from visitors travelling through the district. Local communities will also benefit significantly from enhanced transportation networks, driving down costs relating to travel and running a business, for example.

Ultimately, the true measure of tourism infrastructure investments will be whether communities can convert and leverage them into opportunities of their own. Tourism may provide the initial demand for supporting infrastructure, but lasting value and changed lives comes when residents are able to use this same infrastructure to build businesses, attract further investment, and create new livelihoods of their own.