National Department of Tourism

The national Department of Tourism promotes responsible tourism, markets South Africa as a destination and supports growth and transformation in the tourism sector, under the Tourism Act 3 of 2014. The Department of Tourism is a separate department from the Department of Transport, a distinction worth knowing because bursary adverts for the two sometimes get confused online.

Registered name

National Department of Tourism

Type

National government department

Fields funded

Tourism management and skills the department needs, such as accounting, law, economics, data and administration

Website

tourism.gov.za

About this page’s research

The Department of Tourism’s website timed out when BursariesAfrica tried to research this profile on 15 September 2026. This page draws on a provider record checked in August 2026 and on BursariesAfrica’s research into the department’s 2026 bursary round. Confirm all details on tourism.gov.za before applying.

A bursary for more than tourism students

The Department of Tourism runs an External Bursary Scheme for South African students at accredited public institutions. The scheme funds tourism management, but it also funds the accounting, law, economics, data and administrative skills the department needs to run a national government department. A law or accounting student can therefore apply, not only a student planning a tourism career.

The scheme is small and competitive, and the department advertises it on its own website.

The application calendar

The Department of Tourism advertised its 2026 round in early 2026 and closed it on 20 March 2026 after an extension. The department’s website later said the 2026 awards had been finalised, and no 2027 call had been published when BursariesAfrica checked. BursariesAfrica expects the 2027 call early in 2027 on tourism.gov.za.

How to research the Department of Tourism bursary

Check tourism.gov.za regularly from January 2027 and read the full advert, including the list of funded fields, the minimum academic requirements and any service obligation. National government bursaries often require bursars to work in the public service for a period after graduating, so ask the department’s human resources office how that works.

Learn about the department’s priorities before applying. The Department of Tourism publishes strategies on topics such as domestic tourism, tourism transformation and skills development, and a motivation that refers to one of those priorities stands out in a competitive scheme.

Because the scheme is small, apply to other funders at the same time, including provincial tourism agencies and hospitality companies.

Our Government Bursaries page lists other national and provincial departments that fund students.