Free hospitality and technology training programmes, like the pilot Airbnb ran with Open Africa for township and rural entrepreneurs in 2018, aim to help aspiring hosts and small tourism operators build the digital and hospitality skills the sharing economy actually requires.
What this kind of hospitality training typically covers
Programmes aimed at emerging hosts generally introduce participants to how the broader sharing economy works, alongside practical skills for hosting, co-hosting or leading guided experiences, aimed at helping entrepreneurs from underserved communities build a more inclusive local tourism offering. The goal is usually economic empowerment through tourism, not just teaching participants to use a single platform.
Why platform-backed training matters for township and rural tourism
Township and rural entrepreneurs interested in hospitality often face a genuine information gap, not a lack of interest or hospitality skill, since global platforms and the expectations of international travellers can differ significantly from what local intuition alone would suggest. Training backed directly by a major platform gives participants insight into exactly what makes a listing or experience succeed on that specific platform, rather than generic hospitality advice.
What aspiring hosts should look for in similar programmes
Programmes worth pursuing typically combine genuine platform-specific knowledge with a focus on building a sustainable local offering, rather than a one-off marketing workshop. Entrepreneurs interested in the tourism and hospitality sector should watch for training initiatives run directly by platforms or their local partners, since these tend to offer the most current, practically useful guidance on what actually converts into bookings.
Frequently asked questions
What does a hospitality training programme for aspiring hosts typically cover?
An introduction to how the sharing economy works, plus practical skills for hosting, co-hosting or leading guided experiences.
Why is platform-backed training particularly useful for township and rural entrepreneurs?
It closes a genuine information gap about what global travellers and specific platforms actually expect, rather than relying on generic hospitality advice.
Does interest in hospitality guarantee success as an online host?
Not on its own; understanding platform-specific expectations and building a professional listing matters just as much as hospitality skill itself.
What should aspiring hosts look for in a hospitality training programme?
Genuine platform-specific knowledge combined with guidance on building a sustainable, ongoing local offering, not a one-off workshop.
Where can township and rural entrepreneurs find this kind of training?
Initiatives run directly by major hospitality platforms or their local partners tend to offer the most current, practically useful guidance.
Originally published in June 2018. Updated September 2026.
Tourism sector support via the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
Further reading
Originally published in June 2018. Updated September 2026 to confirm Airbnb has continued backing township and rural tourism entrepreneurs well beyond this original 2018 pilot programme.
