Only 11% of South Africans plan their holidays properly, according to Mashoto Mokgethi, Head of Domestic Tourism at South African Tourism — and that, not price, is the real barrier keeping people from travelling. She was speaking at the Sho't Left Great Debate, held at Rosemary Hill during Tourism Month, where a panel of tourism officials, a finance coach and travel creators made the case that a holiday abroad isn't the only kind of trip worth taking.
Sho't Left, the domestic tourism campaign South African Tourism has run since 2004, takes its name from the minibus taxi phrase passengers use when they want to hop off nearby — a deliberate signal that travel can be close, short and affordable. Its Sho't Left Travel Week, held this year from 7 to 13 September, let travellers book discounted deals during the campaign and travel later, and Mokgethi says the approach is showing results: domestic trips grew 4.1% year on year.
Personal finance coach Mapalo Makhu pushed the point further: treat a holiday like any other financial goal. If a trip will cost R10,000, put away R1,000 a month — and skip the idea that a memorable holiday needs luxury accommodation. She pointed to travel creators as proof that connecting with local communities often beats expensive activities.
Content creator Fari Sanyika, known online as Gophari, offered a neat example: a Limpopo waterfall with a R15 entrance fee that surprised her followers, many of whom had no idea it existed. Her takeaway — platforms like TikTok now do the research that used to require a travel agency, and hidden gems stay hidden mainly because nobody has posted about them. She also rated her Mpumalanga road trips from time spent working in Secunda among her best travel memories, and argued the feeling you leave with matters more than what you spent.
The panel was honest about limits, though. Cape Town's year-round demand keeps prices high, so travellers wanting value may need to shift dates or look at alternative destinations. Travel writer Sbusiso Mkhwanazi added that too many South Africans copy other people's itineraries instead of building trips around their own interests — heritage sites, regional food, waterfalls, hiking trails.
There's a bigger picture too: every domestic trip spreads money to small businesses, guesthouses, guides and craft markets, especially in rural areas where tourism SMMEs struggle for visibility. South African Tourism says it works with industry associations to include these businesses in its campaigns.
For holidaymakers anywhere, the lesson travels well: compare options before you book, budget in advance instead of spending on impulse, and match the destination to your wallet rather than chasing the cheapest deal on paper. Sometimes the best trip is the one a short drive from home.
