The Department of Tourism hosted a networking session for industry stakeholder at Africa’s Travel Indaba in a bid to encourage participation and support for the upcoming National Tourism Careers Expo (NTCE) in Mahikeng, North West Province from 28 to 30 September 2018.
Designed to bridge the information gap between industry and learners, the NTCE provides a platform for the sector to create awareness about the tourism careers and opportunities that exist in the industry, whilst giving learners and unemployed graduates an opportunity to interact with potential employers.
“Since its launch in 2008, the NTCE has over the years established itself as a notable event that positions tourism as a valued career of choice.”
“Through the NTCE, we have introduced more than more than 25 000 learners and graduates in the Free State over the past three years to various tourism professions, and we are eager to increase this number in the North West from 2018 to 2020 in our quest to create more tourism jobs,” said Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe.
The NTCE is an initiative of the Department in partnership with the Culture Arts, Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Education Training Authority (CATHSSETA), and the North West Province as the host. The event features exhibitions by industry players within the tourism value, education seminar and career guidance seminars for the youth.
Deputy Minister Thabethe stated that the Department would like to see increased stakeholder participation as it contributes to the success of the NTCE and our Youth Skills Development Programme.
“The participation of industry stakeholders at the NTCE has contributed the events success, and it has also helped shape our Youth Skills Development Programmes.”
“Our Chef Youth Development Programme was recently acknowledged at the 2018 Global Summit of Women in Australia - where we received the Ministerial Award with a prize of $5 000 for the advancing employment creations for the youth and women,” said the Deputy Minister.
She thanked the tourism sector for assiting the Department to place youth for experiential training in order to fight youth unemployment. The Deputy Minister also welcomed the announcement by Hilton Hotel Worldwide to sponsor two HTA Apprenticeship bursaries; offer work integrated learning opportunities to three Hospitality level 6 learners and five Hospitality level 4 learners and for committing to host a career day at a North West school in before the 2019 NTCE.
“There is a lot we can achieve when we work together. I also urge youth to attend the NTCE and apply for our Youth Skills Development Programmes as we strive to eradicate unemployment and poverty in our communities,” concluded Thabethe.
Enquiries:
Mr Blessing Manale
Chief Director: Communications
Department of Tourism
Telephone: +27 (0) 12 444 6607
Cell: +27 (0) 78 149 7901