Our industry is recognised as one of the sectors that can fast-track people into trained for and employed positions, something that, in these stressed times, is noteworthy, especially when many of our youth are desperate for jobs and reasonable remuneration.



Many of our young people who study at tertiary institutions other than universities are, on completion of their studies, ideally positioned to be absorbed into the mainstream tourism economy. However, there is a trend that seems to prevent these candidates being absorbed into the industry.



A number of our professionally qualified university graduates cannot find careers in their chosen field and, as a result, many sell down their abilities into some levels of tourism and hospitality that could well be taken up by non-university-qualified people.



The nett result is many over-qualified people are taking up positions (usually until they get jobs in accordance with their qualification), while adequately qualified people for entry-level tourism jobs face additional competition for vacancies.



For employers, having a graduate employee may be a bit of a bonus, however, on the one hand it is possible that the graduate sees the job as an interim opportunity, whereas those who have chosen to go specifically into tourism and hospitality have a longer term desire to stay and grow in the sector.



At Ugu South Coast Tourism we have an annual strategy where individuals with specific tourism, leisure and hospitality skills provide us with their curriculum vitae which we then offer to our tourism industry should vacancies arise.



I am also of the opinion that there are a number of tourism-aligned businesses that may wish to source suitably skilled people who have qualified from one or other of our local institutions. Our bank of CVs is available should the public wish to select possible candidates for employment.



If we can train and employ locally, our tourism industry will be doing a great deal to alleviate the frustration that our young people endure on a daily basis – the recent sagas at some of our universities is testimony of that.



With the busy festive season looming, it would be great if enterprises could take on extra staff from our local surrounds. Even on a temporary basis, work experience counts for anybody seeking permanent positions in the future.



We have over a dozen interns working for us and when their term concludes I am sure they will have a better chance of employment than those who have no experience at all. Any takers out there?