The Department of Tourism & SANBI Tourism Ambassador Programme 2026 – R4,600 Stipend
The Department of Tourism, together with Harambee and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), is inviting unemployed young South Africans to apply for the Tourism Ambassador – Integrated Service Excellence Programme 2026. The programme offers young people an opportunity to gain workplace experience and develop useful skills in the tourism, hospitality and travel sector. Successful participants will receive a monthly stipend of R4,600, based on a maximum of 23 days worked per month. The closing date for applications is 18 September 2026.
Opportunities are available in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape. If you are between the ages of 18 and 35, have Matric and are currently unemployed, this programme could give you a chance to gain valuable experience while building skills for future employment.
Department of Tourism Tourism Ambassador Programme 2026
Getting your first opportunity in the workplace can be difficult when you do not have much experience. The Tourism Ambassador Programme 2026 is designed to help unemployed young people gain practical exposure while developing skills that can be useful in the tourism and hospitality industries.
The programme is part of the Integrated Service Excellence Programme 2026 and is focused on creating employment and skills development opportunities for young South Africans.
Participants will work in a professional environment and may be involved in different duties depending on the needs of the participating SANBI site.
The programme uses a demand-led skills development approach. This means participants may be assigned duties according to the skills and services required at the relevant workplace.
Programme Details
Programme: Tourism Ambassador – Integrated Service Excellence Programme 2026
Department: Department of Tourism
Partners: SANBI and Harambee
Employment Type: Fixed-term
Stipend: R4,600 per month
Maximum Days Worked: 23 days per month
Provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape
Target Group: Unemployed youth
Closing Date: 18 September 2026
Who Can Apply?
The programme is aimed at unemployed young South Africans who meet the required conditions.
Applicants must:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Be between 18 and 35 years old.
- Have a Matric Certificate.
- Have a certified copy of their ID available.
- Have proof of residence.
- Have a clear criminal record.
- Be interested in tourism, travel and hospitality.
- Be willing to work flexible hours.
- Have reliable transport to and from work.
Applicants must also live within a 50-kilometre radius of the participating sites and surrounding communities and land claimants.
This location requirement is important. Before applying, candidates should make sure that their residential information is correctly recorded on their SA Youth profile.
Make Sure Your SA Youth Profile Is Updated
One of the important parts of the application is having an accurate SA Youth profile.
Applicants are specifically reminded to provide their exact residential address on their SA Youth profile. This is important because applicants need to live within the required distance from the participating sites.
If your address is outdated or incorrect, it could affect the assessment of your application.
Take some time to check your profile before applying and make sure that the information you provide is accurate.
Previous Department of Tourism Programmes
Applicants who have previously taken part in a Department of Tourism learnership or skills programme must declare this information when completing their application.
Do not leave out this information. Applicants should provide honest and accurate details throughout the application process.
What Will Tourism Ambassadors Do?
The exact duties of successful participants may differ depending on the SANBI site where they are placed and the operational needs of that workplace.
Participants may perform different duties in line with SANBI workplace requirements.
Because the programme operates in the tourism and hospitality environment, participants should be comfortable working with members of the public and providing professional service.
The programme can expose participants to a working environment where communication, customer service, teamwork and professionalism are important.
Successful applicants must also understand that the programme does not follow a Monday-to-Friday schedule only.
Participants must be prepared to work:
- Weekends.
- Public holidays.
- Flexible hours.
- As and when required by the workplace.
Applicants should therefore make sure they are able to meet these working conditions before applying.
R4,600 Monthly Stipend
One of the key benefits of the programme is the R4,600 monthly stipend.
The stipend is based on a maximum of 23 days worked per month.
It is important to understand that this is a fixed-term programme, not a permanent job. The main goal is to provide unemployed young people with workplace exposure, employment opportunities and skills development within tourism-related services.
The experience gained during the programme may help participants when they apply for other jobs and opportunities in the future.
Documents You May Need
Applicants should make sure they have the required information and documents ready.
Shortlisted candidates will be required to provide:
- Certified copy of Matric Certificate.
- Certified copy of ID.
- Proof of residence.
Examples of acceptable proof of residence may include:
- A municipal bill.
- A letter from a Tribal Authority.
- Another relevant proof of residence document.
- A bank statement showing the residential address.
Make sure your documents are clear and contain accurate information. Failure to provide the required documents when requested may result in your application not being considered.
Selection and Interview Process
Applying for the Tourism Ambassador Programme does not mean that every applicant will automatically be selected.
Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an interview. The interview will help determine whether candidates are suitable for the position or programme.
Successful candidates will also be subjected to criminal record checks.
People living with disabilities are specifically encouraged to apply.
Applicants should also be aware that correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates. If you are not contacted within two weeks after the closing date, you should consider your application unsuccessful.
Why This Programme Could Be Worth Considering
The tourism industry offers different career paths in areas such as hospitality, visitor services, travel and tourism support. However, getting practical experience can be difficult for young people who are unemployed.
The Department of Tourism Tourism Ambassador Programme 2026 is designed to give eligible young people an opportunity to gain that workplace exposure.
With a R4,600 monthly stipend, opportunities across five provinces, and a requirement of Matric rather than a post-school qualification, the programme may be suitable for young South Africans looking for a way to start building their work experience.
It is also important to remember that this is a fixed-term opportunity. Participants should use the experience and skills gained during the programme to continue looking for longer-term employment and career opportunities.
How to Apply for the Tourism Ambassador Programme
Eligible applicants can apply online through the SA Youth platform.
Before applying, check that your SA Youth profile is fully updated, especially your exact residential address. Make sure you meet the age, education, citizenship and distance requirements before submitting your application.
The closing date for applications is 18 September 2026.
Before You Submit Your Application
Take a moment to check the important requirements:
- You are a South African citizen.
- You are aged 18 to 35.
- You have Matric.
- You are unemployed.
- You have a clear criminal record.
- You are interested in tourism, travel or hospitality.
- You can work flexible hours, including weekends and public holidays.
- You have reliable transport.
- You live within the required 50-kilometre radius.
- Your SA Youth profile has your correct residential address.
- You can provide the required documents if shortlisted.
- You are ready to attend an interview if shortlisted.
If you meet the requirements, this could be an opportunity to gain practical workplace experience while receiving a R4,600 monthly stipend. Make sure your information is correct and submit your application before 18 September 2026.
