Formerly unemployed youths who were placed with Cape Town tour operators are now confidently working in the tourism sector.

Over 13 young people from Atlantis, Mamre and Langa who qualified as tour guides in 2019 were placed with host employers LaGuGU and City Sightseeing South Africa.

Official Tourist Guide badges were issued to them by the Western Cape Provincial Tourist Guide Registrar’s office, following the completion of a training programme that was facilitated by the city’s Urban Management directorate.

The City of Cape Town, together with the aforementioned tour operators are facilitating a six-month placement period that will equip and prepare them for the workplace.

“City Sightseeing is excited to be involved in this project and honoured to be in a position to give the newly trained guides their first introduction to the vibrant tourism industry,” said Marketing Manager of City Sightseeing, Mandi Jarman.

Newly qualified tour guide, Jodray Arendse said: “Tour guiding has provided me with an opportunity to grow in a personal and professional manner and has allowed me to network with people from all walks of life beyond my small town of Mamre.”