From KwaZulu-Natal’s beautiful coastline to the mountains of Rustenburg, South Africa is packed with places worth exploring… and Alan Campbell wants more people to discover them.
South Africa (28 October 2026) – Every tourist who arrives in South Africa represents so much more than another visitor exploring our beautiful country. They represent jobs, opportunities, families being supported and money flowing into communities. And while we often measure tourism success through visitor numbers and hotel bookings, the real impact is felt by the people whose livelihoods depend on this incredible industry.
On this week’s episode of “Good Things with Brent Lindeque“, I sat down with Alan Campbell, Talent & Commercial Director at ANEW Hotels & Resorts, for a conversation about South African tourism, hidden gems, opportunities within hospitality and his book about leadership and empathy.
Alan has helped grow ANEW from just 2 properties in 2017 to 17 across the country, and his enthusiasm for South Africa is infectious.
“We’ve got the easiest job in the world when it comes to marketing a product like South Africa. It is just inundated with beautiful places to go, fantastic activities to experience and a wealth of everything from food to fauna and flora.”
We spoke about how tourism supports entire communities, from hotel employees to local suppliers and small businesses, and why Alan believes we’ve barely scratched the surface of our country’s potential.
“The impact of tourism in communities is just gigantic. It’s multigenerational. It’s entirely community-driven when you get it right.”
Our conversation also explored the incredible career opportunities within hospitality, particularly for young South Africans who might not have the means to study further. Alan started his own journey as a bartender in Cape Town, while I shared memories of waitering in Alberton and working at a wedding venue. Those early experiences taught us both valuable lessons that still influence our careers today.
“Anybody can start the journey. You hope you start with a company or an organisation that’s going to help you develop and grow and explore your potential.”
We also explored South Africa’s hidden gems, from KwaZulu-Natal’s beautiful coastline to Hunter’s Rest near Rustenburg, before discussing Alan’s book, Genuinely Invested: You Can’t Learn Empathy, and his belief that great leadership starts with genuinely investing in people.
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Alan’s has made it his personal mission to positively impact a thousand families and he sees tourism as one of the most powerful ways to make that happen.
Watch my full conversation with Alan on Good Things with Brent Lindeque below.
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