This past weekend’s National Tourism Careers Expo in Gauteng has been hailed a great success, with as many as 97 exhibitors and registrations topping 10 000.
Marks Thibela, CEO of the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Education Training Authority (CATHSSETA) said the primary objective of the Expo was to provide comprehensive career guidance to students from grades 9 to 12, as well as to those in Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions and universities, alongside unemployed graduates.
“Career guidance is one of the eight outcomes that are encapsulated in the National Skills Development Plan 2023, which replaced the National Skills Development Strategy. Hence CATHSSETA has, over the years, disbursed discretionary grant funding to various stakeholders in support of skills development initiatives that are aimed at addressing the skills shortage in the country.”
Fish Mahlalela, Deputy Minister of Tourism, told expo attendees that the optimal rejuvenation of tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic would require an inclusive and transformative approach that ensured that all, in particular the youth and women, enjoyed the benefits of the success of the sector.
“As government, our approach to a skills revolution is to assist people to upskill and future-proof themselves in the light of this fast-changing work environment to mitigate the impact of triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.”
Mahlalela made reference to a 2021 UNICEF report which found that young people were unable to access skills needed for today’s job market.
“Governments and businesses are urged to address the global skills gap and decrease youth unemployment. [The report] notes that there is a disconnect between requirements and education and training systems,” he said.
He also called on youth to seriously take up all available opportunities being provided by government, as quick fixes and short-cuts to economic empowerment had not provided a sustainable solution to the socio-economic challenges facing the country.
Gauteng tourism to receive economic boost
Gauteng’s tourism industry is set to receive a major economic boost from the Provincial Government, according to MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture, and Rural Development, Tasneem Motara.
Addressing guests at the NTCE, Motara said the Gauteng Provincial Government had identified 10 high-growth sectors for economic inclusion and expansion and tourism was one of these.
“Tourism sits up there with sectors such as ICT, manufacturing, finance, and mining and contributes greatly to Gauteng’s GDP and GDP of South Africa. We are going to focus on economic support for these sectors through additional policy imperatives and guidance, additional funding support, infrastructure support and establishing partnerships.”
