The stage is set and juiced up for the Bokoni Bophirima tourism careers expo

Nie Cele

Its official ! the much anticipated and spoken about National Tourism Career Expo (NTCE) will go full steam ahead come 28 to 30 September 2018.

Furthermore voluminous exhibitors have confirmed to be part of this year’s spectacular and world class event that is expected to attract throngs of people and an avalanche of business associates at the iconic Sun City Resort in the North West province.

This was a groundbreaking announcement and promise made by the organizers of this upcoming event during the launch of Tourism and Heritage month held at Taung Hotel School , North West Province.

The launch attracted the whose who in Tourism industry, mayors, councilors,  provincial,national political heads of this department and other interconnected stakeholders.

HOD for the local department, Neo Sephoti, told the packed to the rafters audience that they will make sure that students gets maximum exposure to this world class event.

North West MEC for Tourism, Desbo Mohono told the audience that there is a long value chain in the tourism industry.

She also highlighted that Tourism month features themed activities that are aligned to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and revealed that the theme for 2018 is ‘Tourism and digital transformation’.

“We launch the NTCE at the start of an important month in the calendar of the tourism industry, as we celebrate both Tourism and Heritage Month in our country. This year’s NTCE will be the most spectacular the country has ever seen, and this is a promise we intend to keep”,  Mohono added.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Elizabeth Thabethe, pointed out that  NTCE was designed to  breach the information gap adding that they hoped to quell the myth and negatives from students about the sector.

“We want to increase more information and knowledge. The NTCE is designed to bridge the information gap between the industry, government, learners and educators. Under the theme, “Tourism alive with opportunities”, the expo aims to drive South Africa`s National Tourism Sector. Strategy`s goal of creating 300 000 tourism jobs opportunities by 2026,” Thabethe pointed.

 

The Deputy Minister also congratulated the province for winning the bid to host the event and argued that the province has adequate resources to support the sector in skills development.

 

“The NTCE has grown to be a brand and a key event in South Africa’s tourism calendar and has gone a long way in profiling and creating awareness of tourism as a vibrant career of choice. We celebrate with the North West for being afforded an opportunity to showcase this important event”, she said .

Board Chairperson of CATHSSETA Dr Victor Ramathesele, expressed his organisation’s vested interest in ensuring the strategic support intent of the NTCE to create a future pool of human capital that will support the current and future tourism growth in South Africa.

“As a labour intensive industry, we understand that this human capital needs to have access to skills development to ensure that they are adequately skilled to support the sector.”

Ramathesele also argued that Tourism has the potential to propel the country to global competitiveness.

“This country has so much to offer. We have to invest in our youth because they are our future,” he said.

Did you know ?

 

• Mahikeng is the only City in the country and probably in the continent that is locked in the middle of 102 villages.
• South Africa is the only country where we can say ‘Welcome’ in 11 languages.
• The NTCE rotates among provinces who bid for the rights to host the event over a period of three years. This event is key among the deliverables of the National Tourism Sector Strategy as it responds to the Broad Based Benefits pillar that focuses on transformation, rural tourism development, enterprise development and investment .
• NTCE is expected to draw in 4500 learners from across the North West province and an additional 1500 from other provinces nationwide, making it the biggest ever learner career excursion in the country.
• PICTURES SOURCED FROM PLACES .COM

 

 

 

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THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE READY TO HOST THE BIGGEST EVER TOURISM CAREERS EXPO

 

In its ninth year, the National Tourism Career Expo (NTCE) will for the first time be hosted by the North West province

from 2018 to 2020.