The opening ceremony of the National Tourism Careers Expo (NTCE) in the Eastern Cape kick started this morning at East London’s International Convention Centre. Hosted in partnership with the National Department of Tourism (NDT), Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA), and the Department of Economic Development, Environment Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) in the Eastern Cape saw the final leg in this version, after three years in this province.
Expected to attract over 8000 learners from across the Eastern Cape and surrounding provinces, the NTCE aims to target learners, students, graduates and educators with the purpose of promoting tourism as a career of choice.
“This platform is an effort to also facilitate the absorption of unemployed youth into the mainstream labour market, as an attempt to reduce unemployment in the sector”, said the Deputy Minister Tokozile Xasa.
CATHSSETA’s CEO Mike Tsotetsi highlighted the Seta’s role in proving skills development and training initiatives, which are aimed at helping graduates and unemployed youth to increase their skills and knowledge levels in order to be better absorbed in the workplace.
In addressing the issue of legacy, DEDEAT, MEC Sakhumzi Somyo heralded the NTCE for presenting an opportunity for innovative and cutting edge programmes that will boost the tourism potential in the province. “As part of legacy projects in the province, the province will amongst other projects, establish a tourism centre of excellence, that will serve as a hub for tourism research, education and training at the Thomas Baines Nature Reserve in Peddie, which currently operates as an environmental education centre”, said the MEC.
The first session of the opening ceremony was followed by a walkabout in the convention centre’s exhibition stands, where all the partner’s dignitaries interacted with over 70 exhibitors.
For more information and interview opportunities, please contact:
Veliswa Mhlope
Communications & PR
Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency
Tel: +27 (0) 43 705 4400
Cell: +27 (0) 79 891 862