80 000 workers required ahead of 2010 15/08/2008 |
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The burgeoning South African tourism industry requires up to 80 000 workers in the next two years ahead of hosting the Fifa World Cup in 2010.
This is according to a skills audit on the industry conducted by the environmental affairs and tourism department.
The audit found that despite the skills shortage in the country, workshops conducted in 2010 host cities had found that one of the key challenges within the sector was the lack of awareness of the benefits in pursuing a career in the sector.
In light of this, tourism deputy minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi announced in Durban on Tuesday that her department would hold the first National Tourism Careers Expo, which was set to be hosted in the city in October.
The event - to be hosted in partnership with the KZN arts, culture and tourism department, the tourism, hospitality, sport and education training authority - is aimed at encouraging unemployed young people to pursue careers in the potentially lucrative industry.
"Even though the tourism sector is one of the largest and most diverse industries in the world, it remains a largely untapped sector when it comes to attracting young individuals to choose it as a career," Mabudafhasi said.
"A key focus of the National Tourism Careers Expo is to showcase, to young people, the vast potential, great opportunities and rewarding jobs within the tourism sector."
She said the expo would also present an opportunity for employers to meet their potential future employees. Tourism teachers would be able to interact with leaders of the industry. Opportunities would also be presented to industry players, especially those that wished to allocate bursaries to students.
Initiatives undertaken by the department to address skills development within the tourism industry would also be unveiled during the expo.
"Tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries globally, and the second-largest sector in the world in terms of turnover. It is an industry that currently offers a lot of opportunities to individuals who not only have a passion for working closely with people but are keen to be part of an industry that is a key contributor to the South African economy," she said.
According to the training authority, tourism is also the fastest-growing industry in South Africa, contributing no less than 10 percent to the gross domestic product and offering more than 400 occupations in five main sectors, namely accommodation, food and beverage services, recreation and entertainment, transport and travel services.
"Many people are unaware of the career opportunities within tourism as they believe that it is not viable to become a professional in the industry," said Sindiswa Nhlumayo, the department's deputy director-general.
"We want to change this, and other misconceptions about tourism as a viable career, and encourage young people to learn more about the industry and how they can find a place for themselves."
The inaugural National Tourism Careers Expo, which is set to become an annual event, will take place at the Durban Exhibition Centre from October 14-16.
(Source: The Mercury)
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