Transformation was highlighted as one of the major challenges in the tourist guide sector that needed to be addressed.

Speaking at the celebrations for International Tourist Guide Day last week at Constitution Hill, Deputy Director-General of Domestic Tourism and the National Registrar for Tourist Guides, Morongoe Ramphele, pointed out that, with a database of 13 000 registered tourist guides, only 35% were black males and only 32% were female.

“A collective effort is needed to address transformation in the industry,” she said.

Ramphele said training on its own would not transform and grow the tourist guide sector. “Mentorship is crucial to get quality guiding as it is the best way to transfer skills. We need the elders in this industry to lead the young guides and offer true support.”

Another curveball to the transformation and sustainability of the sector is the matter of illegal tourist guides. “Illegal tourist guides still pose a threat to the industry.  We will continue our work with SAPS, the Department of Home Affairs and the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency to curb these illegal practices,” said Ramphele.

“I’d like to commend all registered legal tourist guides for providing, not just a memorable experience but a credible one.”

In the short-term, Ramphele acknowledged that the outbreak of COVID-19 would affect tourist numbers, amongst other challenges, but she believed the country to be resilient enough to overcome this pandemic.

“Currently we are faced with many challenges that impact negatively on tourism, such as lack of reliable electricity supply, water shortages, safety and security issues, high unemployment figures.

“I believe we will overcome the imminent challenges, but we need to prepare so as not to be found wanting when the tourism markets improve,” she said.

“Tourism belongs to all of us and we need to nurture it and make sure that it will be here for future generations to come.”

In the last three years, the Department of Tourism has trained 110 new entrants and upskilled more than 140 existing tourist guides in a number of areas.