After travelling through townships, villages and cultural destinations across multiple provinces, the Kasi2Kasi tourism campaign has officially reached a major milestone — concluding its journey at the prestigious Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026, one of the world’s leading tourism trade exhibitions.
What began as a bold initiative to spotlight South Africa’s often-overlooked township and village tourism economy has now evolved into a broader conversation about authentic travel, cultural preservation, community empowerment and inclusive economic growth.
The campaign, spearheaded by the South African Township and Village Tourism Organisation (SATOVITO) in partnership with Sho’t Left, SANTACO, Siyameng Consultants, Jaecoo, Free State Tourism and other stakeholders, travelled from Soweto through the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, documenting hidden tourism gems, local businesses, cultural experiences and grassroots hospitality.
Africa’s Travel Indaba Becomes the Perfect Closing Chapter
The final stop at Africa’s Travel Indaba carried symbolic significance.
Owned by South African Tourism, Africa’s Travel Indaba is widely regarded as the continent’s premier leisure tourism marketing trade show and ranks among the top global tourism exhibitions. The event creates direct market access between African tourism businesses, international buyers, travel professionals and global media.
For Kasi2Kasi, arriving at Indaba represented more than just visibility — it was validation.
The campaign brought township and village tourism directly into one of Africa’s most influential tourism conversations, helping shift perceptions around what defines a travel destination in modern South Africa.
Rather than only luxury lodges and established tourist routes, Kasi2Kasi demonstrated that tourism can also thrive in communities rich with culture, history, entrepreneurship and lived experiences.
Deputy Minister Maggie Sotyu Visits SATOVITO Stand
A standout moment at Africa’s Travel Indaba came when Deputy Minister of Tourism, Makhotso Magdeline Sotyu, popularly known as Maggie Sotyu, visited the SATOVITO stand alongside members of her portfolio committee.
The visit provided an opportunity for government leadership to engage directly with the work being done to reposition township and village tourism within South Africa’s tourism economy.
During the visit, the Deputy Minister viewed the documentary filmed throughout the Kasi2Kasi campaign — a visual storytelling project capturing the people, destinations, businesses and cultural experiences encountered during the journey.
Industry stakeholders described the visit as a meaningful moment of recognition for the role township and village tourism can play in broadening economic participation and reshaping tourism narratives.
More Than Tourism — A Story About Inclusion
At its heart, Kasi2Kasi was never simply a road trip.
It became a platform for storytelling.
A platform for visibility.
A platform for communities often left outside mainstream tourism brochures.
Through influencer-led content, destination marketing, transport partnerships and community engagement, the campaign highlighted experiences that many South Africans live every day but which are rarely positioned as tourism assets.
From township food culture and local entrepreneurship to mountain hospitality, heritage experiences and mobility networks, Kasi2Kasi challenged traditional ideas of tourism.
It asked an important question:
What if South Africa’s greatest tourism experiences have been in our own communities all along?
The Role of Strategic Partnerships
The campaign’s success also reflected the growing importance of collaboration in tourism development.
Partners played different but equally important roles:
- SATOVITO championed township and village tourism visibility.
- Sho’t Left continued driving domestic travel awareness.
- SANTACO demonstrated how mobility and local tourism intersect.
- Siyameng Consultants highlighted the importance of enterprise support, governance and sustainable business development.
- Jaecoo South Africa contributed lifestyle mobility solutions designed for long-distance and experiential travel.
Together, the campaign reflected a growing shift toward tourism ecosystems that prioritise accessibility, authenticity and economic inclusion.
What Kasi2Kasi Leaves Behind
As the campaign closes, its impact may extend far beyond social media content and kilometres travelled.
Tourism leaders say township and village tourism remains one of South Africa’s most underutilised economic opportunities — particularly as travellers increasingly seek immersive, culturally rich and community-rooted experiences.
Kasi2Kasi helped prove that these destinations already exist.
They simply need visibility, investment and belief.
And perhaps the biggest takeaway from the journey is this: South Africa’s tourism future may not only lie in where we travel — but in finally recognising the value of places we have too often overlooked.
Follow the Kasi2Kasi journey online:
#Jaecoo #SATOVITO #ShotLeft #SANTACO #Kasi2Kasi #SiyamengConsultants #VisitFreeState #DiscoverFreeState #AfricaTravelIndaba #TownshipTourism
