A new pilot programme by Dream Hotels & Resorts aims to break down financial barriers to travel by packaging affordable holidays for South Africans in historically overlooked communities.
The pay-as-you-go holidays are built on the foundations of Dream Escapes, the company’s month-to-month vacation product. Aspirant travellers who cannot afford the hefty upfront payments required to book hotels, purchase plane tickets or pay for a holiday are offered an option that allows them to gradually save towards this goal.
Dream Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Tuu Post — a platform that partners with retail store merchants to deliver services such as assisted e-commerce, last-mile delivery and administrative support — to craft a stokvel-type product that seeks to make travel affordable for township residents.
South Africans who face the toughest economic challenges have the least opportunity to take a break, the company says, and it is trying to change that, one township at a time.
Customers are offered flexible monthly payment options, specifically designed to suit their financial needs
— Clyde Keevy., Dream Hotels & Resorts’ head of leisure sales
Since the beginning of the year, the initiative has introduced travel-booking services in township spaza shops and internet cafés. “Residents can walk into a local business and book a getaway without needing a credit card, long-term contract or a big upfront deposit, which makes all the difference for households managing tight budgets,” said
The pilot now operates in five Tuu Post locations in Gauteng — three in Soweto and one each in Alexandra and Katlehong.
The Dream Escapes package starts at R449 a month, and more than 1,000 families have organised holidays through it, the company said.
Keevy said the company was using the pilot as a “learning curve”, with plans to expand its footprint across South Africa. It hopes to grow the programme into a full-scale operation in 30 locations.
Customers are offered flexible monthly payment options, specifically designed to suit their financial needs, he said.
At the Blue Marlin All Inclusive Seascape resort in KwaZulu-Natal, those travelling under the pilot programme are offered deals with the cost of food, accommodation and activities factored into a single deposit.
A new lay-by payment system has been implemented.
Developed alongside stokvel communities and LayUp Technologies, it allows would-be travellers to pay through small, interest-free instalments. “You can stop [payments] any time if you want. There’s no hidden agenda or fees, it’s really just to make the holidays more accessible to everyone,” Keevy said.
The Vacation Ownership Association of South Africa has reported a 79% occupancy rate for timeshares, outperforming the hotel sector’s average occupancy rate of 45%.
According to the National Stokvel Association of South Africa, there are more than 800,000 stokvels with 11-million members who save an estimated R50bn annually — demonstrating the spending power of these community-based investment groups. “Dream Hotels & Resorts’ inclusion of stokvel-enabled payment options reflects the company’s recognition of South Africa’s cultural heritage of communal financial practices,” Keevy said.
“Community inclusion and upliftment are a key element of the initiative. Not only does this grant the freedom of choice to township residents, but also actively empowers local businesses.”
Keevy said they were also offering training and co-branding opportunities to accelerate grassroots entrepreneurship. “This pilot aims to turn these businesses into ‘micro-agents’, where they can earn commissions on bookings, upskilling individuals and empowering the local economy.”
The ultimate aim, he said, was to make travel a reality for those who otherwise could not afford it. “There’s no reason why a young family in Soweto or a Katlehong-based stokvel shouldn’t be able to book weekend getaways with the same ease and joy as a tourist from Germany or Joburg north.”
According to data from South African Tourism, there were 11.5-million domestic overnight trips in 2024, with combined spending of R33bn — 10.1% up from the previous year. The average overnight domestic spend was 14% up at R2,809. Local bed occupancy was up 18.8% at 39.2-million, while the average stay declined slightly to 3.4 nights per trip. There were also 32.9-million domestic day trips recorded in 2024 — a 22.8% increase over the previous year.
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