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Learners receive credentials in Responsible Tourism Practices
Learners receive credentials in Responsible Tourism Practices

​​​​“We need to expand tourism in a sustainable way through reduced energy, water and waste management”, stated Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela during a certification ceremony in Emalahleni Local Municipality today.


The event saw 18 Mpumalanga youth receive Tourism Resource Efficiency Training certificates from the Department of Tourism.

“The sector has a skills gap in responsible tourism with limited skilled people to assist establishments to reduce energy, electricity and waste management. The Tourism Resource Efficiency Training programme assists youth with these skills to support the sector to be sustainable,” said Deputy Minister Mahlalela.
Initiated in 2017, the Tourism Resource Efficiency Training Programme was implemented in partnership with the National Cleaner Production Centre – South Africa (NCPC – SA) with the aimed to train 180 youth nationally over three years in responsible tourism practices. The NCPC-SA is a national programme of government that promotes the implementation of resource efficient and cleaner production methodologies to assist industry to lower costs through reduced energy, water and materials usage, and waste management.

The training entailed a week of theoretic training on the tourism resource efficiency and the fundamentals of energy management, followed by a six month on the job training at a participating host employer. The NCPC provided mentorship to the trainees during the practical training.
During the certification ceremony, host employer Anne Sibande from Villa Anne Boutique Hotel Group elaborated on the impact the Tourism Resource Efficiency Training learners had on her establishment in Witbank.
“Having Tourism Resource Efficiency Training learners at our hotel was an eye-opening experience. They assisted us to reduce our electricity bill significantly and taught us how to manage water better.”
Learner Paile Mahlatsi thanked the Department for the programme. “The skills we have learned, we did not only apply in the workplace, but also at home to make a different to our families,” said Mahlatsi.

The 2019/20 financial year was the last year of the three-year pilot of this programme. During the February 2020, certificate ceremonies also took place with 22 trainees in North West and seven in Northern Cape. The youth who were part of this programme were all unemployed youth with N6 Electrical/Mechanical Engineering.

Enquiries:

Mr Blessing Manale
Chief Director: Communications
Department of Tourism
Tel: +27 (0) ​12 444 6607
Cell: +27 (0) 66 487 8867