National Tourism Careers Expo

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The National Tourism Careers Expo (NTCE) is expected to attract over 10 000 learners, tourism students and graduates and educators during the three days over which it will be held. The interactive exhibition is designed to showcase the exciting career opportunities available in tourism and hospitality.

 
The NTCE, which  will run from 28 to 30 September 2012, is supported by National Department of Tourism, the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT)and CATHSSETA (Culture, Art, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Education and Training Authority), previously known as THETA.
 
With this year’s theme being “Explore your World of Tourism” the expo is now in its fourth year and aims to drive South Africa’s National Tourism Sector Strategy’s goal of creating 225 000 tourism jobs by 2020, and ensuring there are sufficient numbers of skilled people to fill these positions.
During the expo popular highlights will include:
  Specialised areas within the expo that will cater to each of  the sectors of tourism and hospitality
 Speakers Corner, where tourism entrepreneurs and industry experts will share their success stories and allow learners and students to interact directly with the speakers.
• A job placement and recruitment service will also be made available to the learners
 Private sector companies will exhibit at the expo where they will provide interactive, edutainment experiences for the learners and further show their commitment to skills development by offering a number of bursaries, learnerships and internships to learners attending the expo.
 
An overview of the NTCE
 
The National Tourism Careers Expo (NTCE) is fast becoming an electrifying trademark event in the tourism industry. Presented by three partners which include the National Department of Tourism (NDT), Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT - Eastern Cape)), and the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA).
 
Addressing the skills development challenge and promoting growth in the tourism sector
 
The National Department of Tourism (NDT), Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT - Eastern Cape)), and the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) the NTCE is now its fourth year.   Now it its fourth year, the NTCE is being held in East London in the Eastern Cape where it will be held for the next three years.
 
Although tourism in South Africa is one of  the second largest, and  fastest growing sectors in South Africa the sector also faces a number of challenges when it comes to skills and young people entering the sector after school or tertiary education.
 
These challenges include:
• Lack of industry knowledge and respect
• Poor perception of the industry – few benefits, only menial jobs
• Less attention as a subject in schools and tertiary institutions
• Lack of facilities in teaching tourism
• Teachers are not trained to teach tourism effectively
• It is an undesignated subject in high school
FACT: 70% of school leavers intend to study further with only 9% considering tourism as an option.
 
The NTCE aims to address these challenges by:
• Profiling tourism as a desired career of choice to prospective learners
• Identifying and communicating employment opportunities in the tourism sector for unemployed youth
• Highlighting the available tourism professions within South Africa
• Providing a platform for interactive information sharing on available tourism education and training opportunities
• Providing a platform for interactive opportunities between the learners and the prospective employers.
 
Details of the event are as follows:
 
Venue: East London ICC, East London, Eastern Cape
Dates:  28 to 30 September 2012
 
For more information: http://www.tourismcareers.co.za/