The 10th edition of the National Tourism Career Expo (NTCE) -- designed to bridge the information gap between industry, government, learners and educators -- entered its last day today.
Since Friday, more than 2 000 delegates, which include learners in grade 9 – 12, FET and university students and unemployed graduates from across the country have been assembling at Sun City holiday resort in the North West for what is known as the biggest learner excursion in South Africa.
NTCE is an initiative of the Department of Tourism and the Culture, Arts, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and Training (CATHSSETA).
It provides an opportunity for tourism curricula experts and industry skills specialists to share information with tourism educators and learners on a variety of careers choices and opportunities the sector offers.
The opening ceremony included an inspection of the exhibition stalls by its patrons, Tourism Deputy Minister Elizabeth Thabethe, MEC Desbo Mohono and senior executives from key players in the tourism industry. More than 30 exhibitors displayed the industry’s career offering and options, bidding to influence and persuade learners to make tourism a career of choice.
In her address to delegates, Thabethe said: “Having celebrated World Tourism Day in Mthatha, it is befitting for us to close Tourism Month with NTCE, as one of our department’s flagship programmes, which is designed to bridge the gap between industry, government, learners and young people.
“One of its key objectives is to promote tourism as a career of choice to learners and young people.”
Mohono said he was honoured to be the host for this year’s NTCE.
“The NTCE has found a home and friends in our beautiful province. We have seen it from its humble beginnings, having been previously hosted by KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, the Free State and now for in its 10th year… in the North West province,” said Mohono.
According to the Department of Tourism, the event 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.
The platform is meant to facilitate interaction so that information and knowledge can be shared on education and training opportunities, as well as to showcase tourism professional opportunities and their worth in the South African and global economy.
Key among the deliverables of the National Tourism Sector Strategy, the NTCE seeks to respond to the broad-based benefits pillar, which focuses on transformation, rural tourism development, enterprise development and investment. - SAnews.gov.za
