SayPro is working with Erasmus+ to support South African tourism associations in strengthening their organizational capacity through international partnerships. This initiative focuses on helping associations develop strategic planning skills, policy advocacy capabilities, and cross-border collaboration networks. SayPro enables these organizations to participate in European exchange programs, study tours, and training workshops led by seasoned tourism institutions and professionals. The aim is to build institutional resilience and enable South African associations to represent their members more effectively while shaping tourism policies and standards. SayPro believes that empowered tourism associations are essential for driving sustainable growth and innovation across the sector.
The Erasmus+ partnership supports knowledge transfer in areas such as sustainable tourism practices, digital transformation, professional standards, and destination marketing. SayPro facilitates collaborations with European associations that share similar mandates, creating platforms for joint initiatives, co-funded research, and tourism development programs. These engagements foster mutual learning and encourage joint action plans addressing climate impact, cultural preservation, and local economic development. SayPro also assists associations in leveraging EU funding mechanisms to strengthen their administrative and operational capacity, ensuring long-term sustainability and impactful advocacy within South Africa’s tourism ecosystem.
SayPro ensures that tourism associations from rural and township areas are included in this opportunity, recognizing their vital role in representing emerging tourism entrepreneurs. Capacity building includes training in governance, financial management, stakeholder engagement, and service innovation. SayPro works closely with associations to tailor Erasmus+ engagements to their specific contexts, challenges, and strategic goals. The goal is to ensure these organizations can serve as catalysts for inclusive and regionally balanced tourism development. SayPro champions collaborative leadership and transparent governance as key outcomes of this initiative.
In the future, SayPro plans to establish a National Tourism Association Support Network (NTASN), supported by Erasmus+, to continue strengthening the sector through policy dialogue, shared resources, and innovation labs. This network will facilitate ongoing European-African collaboration, ensuring South African associations stay informed of global trends and opportunities. Through this project, SayPro is helping tourism associations become more influential, connected, and capable of leading the transformation toward a competitive, sustainable, and community-driven tourism sector in South Africa.