The Department of Tourism and University of Cape Town are bringing 50 student innovators together to develop digital solutions supporting township and rural tourism businesses.
The Tourism Hackathon Challenge, scheduled to launch at UCT’s d-school in Cape Town on Saturday, 14 November 2026, will focus on improving the visibility of community-based tourism operators and connecting smaller businesses with potential customers.
Under the theme “Community-Based Tourism and Rural Inclusion”, the initiative will challenge students to address barriers that prevent township and rural tourism businesses from participating more effectively in South Africa’s tourism economy.
The 50 participants, selected from public and private universities offering tourism and hospitality qualifications, will work in teams to develop practical technology-based solutions.
Their projects will focus on digital platforms connecting tourists with township and rural experiences, online booking systems for local guides and homestays, virtual-reality tours showcasing lesser-known destinations, and payment solutions that support financial inclusion for smaller operators.
For tourism businesses operating outside established destinations, digital visibility and access to booking and payment systems can influence their ability to attract customers and generate income.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said the initiative forms part of efforts to develop young talent while addressing challenges facing the sector.
“Investing in the sustainability of the tourism sector begins with an investment in the youth. Through the hackathon, we want to build a pipeline of young talent who will not only gain digital skills, mentorship and practical experience, but who will be encouraged to pursue careers and entrepreneurship through innovation in tourism,” De Lille said.
The challenge builds on the inaugural G20 Tourism Hackathon held in 2025, with this year’s programme placing greater emphasis on community participation and rural economic inclusion.
The Department of Tourism is working with UCT and partners including the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority, the Centre for Public Service Innovation, Future Leaders Challenge and Geekculture.
The collaboration forms part of the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan 2025–2030, which identifies tourism product development, employment, skills development and community participation as priorities.
UCT will contribute expertise in design thinking, entrepreneurship, innovation and financial technology to help participants develop solutions that respond to practical industry needs.
University of Cape Town Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela said the three-year strategic partnership with the department would strengthen the relationship between academic innovation and tourism development.
“The University of Cape Town is proud to enter into this three-year strategic partnership with the Department of Tourism. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to strengthening tourism through innovation, entrepreneurship and the creation of new opportunities across the sector,” Moshabela said.
Following the launch, participating teams will continue refining their concepts before presenting working prototypes at a final pitching and awards event scheduled between January and March 2027.
The department and UCT will also explore further innovation and entrepreneurship development support for the three highest-ranked teams.
The initiative brings together two development priorities: preparing young South Africans for careers in an increasingly digital economy and improving the ability of smaller tourism enterprises to compete for visitors.
Its longer-term contribution will depend on whether the solutions developed can be taken beyond the competition and applied by tourism businesses in communities that remain underserved by existing digital platforms.
