National Tourism Careers Expo in March leads the way

Young people are a prominent and significant demographic that must be involved in the economic emancipation of any nation but this can only happen when they are armed with education. This is why the department of Tourism has launched the 2021 National Tourism Careers Expo (NTCE) which will take place at the Joburg Expo Centre at Nasrec from Friday, 25-27 March.

The upcoming actual event will be hosted by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Culture Arts, Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Education Training Authority (CATHSSETA), the Gauteng Department of Economic Development represented by its provincial marketing agency, the Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA).

Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela says this is a move by government, to expose young people to the opportunities that will better their lives and assist in driving the goal of to create an additional 300 000 tourism job opportunities by 2026.

“Tourism was all but decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This sector was the first to close when travel ground to a halt globally and the last to partially re-open. It was a catastrophe of note, decimating both lives and livelihoods,” he said.

“The tourism sector is one of the critical intervention areas that has been identified in the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan as it is a key driver of economic recovery in South Africa. Tourism is the world’s fastest growing employment sector that continues to adapt to new trends,” Mahlalela says.

The NTCE aims to help create and build jobs in the tourism industry and takes place this month with the theme Rebuilding A Resilient And Inclusive Tourism Sector For The Future. This is the 12th hosting of the expo which was postponed last year to March because of the COVID-19 pandemic and is the first time it has taken place in Gauteng.

Since its inception in 2008, it has successfully bridged the information gap between the industry and learners and offered the youth an opportunity to interact directly with potential employers in the sector.

“To drive growth and recovery of the tourism sector, we need to boost the talent pool. A demand-led skills supply in the sector is therefore pivotal. While tourism is a significant economic lever, it is so much more than generating revenue. Tourism is a people-centric sector with people at the heart of its brand,” says the Minister.

Careers on skills development initiatives and business opportunities that exist within the tourism sphere will be showcased. The expo will also share valuable and up-to-date insights into South Africa’s tourism and hospitality industries as they return to a new normal following the pandemic.

The event is free-of-charge upon pre-registration that is aimed at Grade 8 to 12 learners; university, FET (further education and training), TVET (technical and vocational education and training) college students and unemployed graduates to see what the tourism and hospitality industries have to offer in terms of career, entrepreneurial and job opportunities.

The event also provides an opportunity for tourism curricula experts to share information with tourism educators and learners and for stakeholders within the sector to share information on diverse careers available in the sector. It is designed to bridge the information gap between the industry, government, learners and educators.

CEO of the Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) Sthembiso Dlamini says that the theme of the NTCE ‘Rebuilding A Resilient And Inclusive Tourism Sector For The Future’ reinforces that tourism continues to be the most vulnerable to disasters and other disruptions.

“COVID-19 is a classic example of how the sector and its entire value chain collapsed.”

What to expect from the NTCE

The Expo aims to facilitate interaction between tourism stakeholders and educators as well as learners so 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.