The Grade 12 Tourism curriculum is a dynamic journey through the operational and managerial aspects of the travel industry. For the Class of 2026, success in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) requires not only memorizing facts about World Heritage Sites but also mastering complex skills like foreign exchange conversions and time zone calculations.
This guide outlines the 2026 Tourism Annual Teaching Plan (ATP), providing a structured weekly schedule to help learners and teachers navigate the syllabus from global events to customer service excellence.
Tourism Grade 12 ATP 2026
The curriculum is divided into four terms, focusing on the tourism sectors, map work, and sustainable practices essential for the modern tourism professional.
Term 1: Global Events, Planning & Compliance
Focus: The first term sets the global stage, looking at major events and the technicalities of planning international travel, including health and safety compliance.
- Weeks 1–3: Global Events & Political Situations
- Global Events: Study of events of international significance (e.g., FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, G8 Summits) and their positive/negative impact on the host country’s economy and infrastructure (multiplier effect).
- Unforeseen Occurrences: Analyzing the impact of natural disasters (tsunamis, earthquakes), terrorism, and diseases on tourism.
- Weeks 4–7: Map Work & Tour Planning
- Itineraries: Compiling day-by-day itineraries ensuring logical route planning and appropriate activities for specific tourist profiles.
- Budgets: Developing tour budgets that include transport, accommodation, meals, and activities.
- Week 8: Health & Safety
- Health: Understanding World Health Organisation (WHO) regulations, travel clinics, and compulsory vaccinations (e.g., Yellow Fever) vs. recommended precautions (e.g., Malaria prophylaxis).
- Safety: Precautions for tourists in public areas, hotels, and airports.
- Week 9: Travel Documentation
- Requirements for passports and visas.
- Customs regulations: Duty-free goods, prohibited goods, and the Red vs. Green channel.
Term 1 Assessments
- Task 1: Tourism Skills Assessment Task.
- Task 2: March Controlled Test.
Term 2: Time Zones, Icons & Foreign Exchange
Focus: The second term is calculation-intensive (Time Zones and Forex) and explores famous global attractions and marketing strategies.
- Weeks 1–3: Map Work (World Time Zones)
- Concepts: UTC, International Date Line (IDL), hemispheres, and the 24-hour clock.
- Calculations: Calculating arrival and departure times with and without Daylight Saving Time (DST). Understanding jet lag and jet fatigue.
- Weeks 4–7: Tourist Attractions
- Famous World Icons: Differentiating between an attraction and an icon.
- Study List: Analyzing icons (e.g., location, reason for status) as per the examination guideline.
- Success Factors: Sustainable management, efficiency, and universal access at tourist attractions.
- Week 8: Domestic & International Tourism
- Statistics: Interpreting foreign arrival statistics, length of stay, and average expenditure per tourist.
- Week 9: Marketing
- Role of SA Tourism and the Tourism Marketing Levy South Africa (TOMSA).
- Marketing opportunities like the Tourism Indaba and World Travel Market (London).
- Weeks 10–11: Foreign Exchange
- Economics: GDP, the multiplier effect, and the concept of “strong” vs. “weak” Rand.
- Calculations: Converting currencies using Bank Selling Rate (BSR) and Bank Buying Rate (BBR).
Term 2 Assessments
- Task 3: Mid-Year Examination / Controlled Test.
- PAT: Continuation of the Practical Assessment Task (100 Marks).
Term 3: Sustainability, Heritage & Customer Care
Focus: The third term emphasizes the “Triple Bottom Line” of responsible tourism and the soft skills required for customer service.
- Week 1: Forms of Payment
- Methods for international travel: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), SWIFT transfers, credit cards, and foreign bank notes.
- Weeks 2–3: Sustainable & Responsible Tourism
- Triple Bottom Line: Balancing Planet (Environment), People (Social), and Profit (Economy).
- Corporate Social Investment (CSI): How tourism businesses support community projects (education, sport, health).
- Week 4: Culture & Heritage
- World Heritage Sites: The role of UNESCO and a detailed description of all World Heritage Sites in South Africa.
- Week 5: Communication & Customer Care
- Feedback: Methods to obtain customer feedback (surveys, SMS, web-based) and how to analyze data to improve profitability.
- Weeks 6–7: Tourism Sectors
- Professional Image: Company image (logo, branding) vs. Staff image (uniforms, grooming, hygiene).
- Employment: Basic conditions of employment, contracts, and the code of conduct.
Term 3 Assessments
- PAT: Finalization of the Practical Assessment Task.
- Task: Preparatory / Trial Examination (200 Marks).
Term 4: Final Assessment
Focus: The final term is dedicated to revision and the external NSC examination.
- Weeks 1–4: Intensive Revision of all topics (Terms 1–3).
- Final Assessment: NSC Final Examination (200 Marks) covering the entire Grade 12 curriculum.
FAQ: Tourism Grade 12
Q: Which calculations are most important for the final exam? A: You must master two main types of calculations:
- Time Zones: Calculating arrival/departure times including flying time and Daylight Saving Time.
- Foreign Exchange: Converting ZAR to foreign currency and vice versa, understanding when to use the Bank Buying Rate vs. Bank Selling Rate.
Q: Do I need to memorize all World Heritage Sites? A: You need to know the location, description, and UNESCO criteria for all South African World Heritage Sites. For international icons, you should follow the specific list provided in the Grade 12 Examination Guidelines.
Q: What is the “Triple Bottom Line”? A: It is the framework for sustainable tourism involving three pillars: Environmental (resource management), Economic (profit and local procurement), and Social (benefits to local communities).