A dissertation of limited scope submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Masters in Recreation and Tourism in the Centre for Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, 2007. / The tourism industry is considered as the key towards Black people empowerment in uMhlathuze Municipality. This study examine whether Black Economic Empowerment [BEE] in tourism can contribute to the upliftment of Black people. Hence, the aim of this research inquiry, among other things, was to assess the impact and potential of the BEE policy towards promotion of tourism entrepreneurship among Black people in the study area. The aim was simplified into objectives also used to guide this study: The objectives focussed on examining the understanding, awareness, access to the BEE finances and the roles of stakeholders. The promotion of entrepreneurship among the Black people was view in this study as critical for success of the BEE policy in tourism. A research method followed by this study was the survey technique, using self-administered questionnaire. The structured survey used closed ended objective questions. A sample of 160 respondents was acquired, based on a statistical population of about 300 000 people in the study area. The collected data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences [SPSS] computer programme. The tabled numerical data was analysed. Literature was used to comprehend, give insight on the issues that needed investigation, to support the findings as well as to make conclusions. This study found that the BEE policy has the potential to contribute towards tourism entrepreneurship within the study area. The Black people were not sufficiently involved in the ownership of tourism businesses. The study has found that there is a lack of entrepreneurship skill access to information and finance for BEE related entrepreneurial activities. The uMhlathuze Municipality lacks the capacity to monitor the implementation of the BEE. The study concludes by suggesting that, because of the found shortcomings, the aims of the Black Economic Empowerment policy are not realised by the majority of Black people in the study area.