Not only is timeshare good for our health by ensuring that we take regular holidays, it’s also good for our country’s economy.

According to a global Oxford Economics Industry Study, the timeshare industry spans the globe with 5 491 resorts, 194 million room nights and annual sales of $19.7 billion.   By traveling to these resorts, holidaymakers make a positive contribution to the global economy by supporting nearly 1.3 million jobs and generating $146 billion in economic output.

As one of the world’s leading timeshare markets, South Africa is ranked the 5th highest country for vacation ownership and 4th in terms of future purchase interest. It is a R3.5 billion per annum industry that has a significant footprint in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Furthermore, its knock-on effect has a positive impact on the country’s economy by contributing billions of rand to the GDP and generating employment for around 27 000 people, ranging from highly skilled to informal positions.

When comparing the number of timeshare apartments to the number of hotel rooms in three popular holiday destinations, the Vacation Ownership Association of South Africa found that timeshare made up for 63% of the apartments in Umhlanga, 60% of the apartments in the Drakensberg and 70% of the apartments in the Hazyview / Kruger Park area.  This indicates a significant contribution by the shared vacation industry to local revenues through restaurants, entertainment attractions and retail outlets”.

With property upgrades of more than R500 million in recent years, resort development plays a key role in supporting local entrepreneurs. Crafters are given the opportunity to sell their merchandise in many resort’s curio shops, which helps to alleviate poverty. This creates a positive experience for the local communities and holidaymakers by balancing the needs of travellers with those of the destination.