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The National Tourism Careers Expo (NTCE), in its seventh consecutive year running, and is becoming one of the most exciting trademarks of the tourism industry. It harnesses official support from its three partners: the Department of Tourism (NDT), the Culture Arts, Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Education Training Authority (CATHSSETA) and the Free State Department of Economic Small Business Development, Tourism and Environment Affairs (DESTEA) as a host province.

The main objective of the National Tourism Career Expo (NTCE) is to create an interactive platform for the public, learners at high school level, students at tertiary institutions, parents and education and training providers and / or organisations, employer organisation and government in the tourism sector. 

This platform is meant to facilitate interaction between the above groups of people such that information and knowledge can be shared on available education and training opportunities as well as to show case available tourism professional opportunities and their worth in the South African and global economy.

The 2015 event will be held on the 01 to 03 October 2015 at the Sand Du Plessis in Bloemfontein.

Educators Seminar

The Department of Tourism (NDT), and the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA) identified the need for an investigation into the Tourism / Hospitality sub-sector, after recognizing that there was a reduction of new entrants into the Hospitality / Hotel schools and colleges over the last three years. It was observed that this downward trend is happening at a time when the industry is experiencing exponential tourism growth. The trend posed a challenge of the country abilities to provide the necessary capacity in line with the experienced exponential growth. 

The National Department of Tourism in partnership with FEDHASA appointed Equidem, a private service provider to conduct a survey into the attitudes of the respondents towards the Hospitality Industry as a career choice. The findings of the research led to the need for Educators` Seminars being identified as an urgent information sharing intervention.

NDT has therefore, has undertaken to conduct Education Seminars in all provinces with the support of the Department of Education (DBE). The DBE, representatives expressed their unwavering support for the Education Seminars and any other ventures aimed at improving the quality and capability of Educators, in various meetings and workshops with NDT. 

The Broader Objectives of the educators’ seminars are as follows