Hundreds of tourism operators and experts will converge at Sun City this coming weekend as the North West Tourism Agency hosts the 2018 National Tourism Careers Expo (NTCE).
The Department of Tourism is spearheading the expo in collaboration with the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality & Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) and North West Tourism from 28 to 30 September.
The North West province will host the NTCE for the first time since its inception in 2008. More than 4 500 learners from across the country are expected to descend 0n the venue for the three-day event.
The event, the Department of Tourism says, provides an opportunity for tourism curricula experts to share information with tourism educators, and for stakeholders within the sector to share information on a variety of careers the sector has to offer.
“It is designed to bridge the information gap between the industry, government, learners and educators under the theme ‘Tourism alive with opportunities’,” the department said.
The expo aims to drive South Africa’s National Tourism Sector Strategy’s goal of creating 300 000 tourism jobs opportunities by 2026.’
Deputy Minister of Tourism Elizabeth Thabethe, along with the MEC of Tourism in the North West, Desbo Mohono, and CATHSSETA Acting CEO Keitumetse Lebaka will officially open the expo on Friday, 28 September.
Unveiling key economic reforms aimed at unlock greater investment in the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa on 21 September announced that South Africa was reviewing its visa regulations in an effort to boost tourism and make business travel a lot more conducive.
“Tourism continues to be a great job creator and through these measures, we are confident that many more tourists will visit South Africa,” he said.
Within the next few months, amendments will be made to regulations on the travel of minors, the list of countries requiring visas to enter South Africa will be reviewed, an e-visas pilot will be implemented and the visa requirements for highly skilled foreigners will be revised, the President said54.
September is observed as Tourism Month. – SAnews.gov.za
