By Simon Nare
As the National Tourism Career Expo (NTCE) drew to a close, learners and exhibitors were in unison that the programme was especially beneficial to learners who had seen it for themselves to grasp the opportunities in the tourism sector.
On the second day of the three-day event at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, the stadium was abuzz with activities, with learners moving from one exhibition stand to another enquiring about opportunities.
Several exhibitors and learners who spoke to Inside Travel agreed that the event helped them understand what was in store for them in the tourism sector.
Exhibitors said they were impressed by how the young participants interrogated them.
Entrepreneur Cecilia Montla said she was very impressed with how the learners expressed their interest and their questions to her about her business, and how some of them asked about how they could start their own enterprises.
Montla, a member of Limpopo Women in Tourism, makes colorful bags which were on display at the expo.
“I just spoke to one of the learners who said he is an artist. He was telling me how he can make drawings for my bags. So, we exchanged details and we are going to collaborate with him,” she told Inside Travel.
Montla said the learners had expressed an interest in her bags, which she said depicted South Africa’s heritage and culture.
And in each interaction, she highlighted the importance of education as it would lay a solid foundation for them if they wanted to venture into business.
“I tell them that any career path or talent that they have, they need to embrace it, but more importantly, they must go to school. Education is the best foundation for anything that they want to do in life,” she said.
Fresh Prince of Polokwane exhibitor Mpho Shaba, who is an event chef, said she interacted with a lot of learners who were keen to know about cooking for events like weddings, funerals and large parties.
“They were asking if we really cook the food displayed in the banners. Most of them are genuinely interested. I tell them to go to school and further their studies to become chefs. This programme really helps the learners to see what opportunities there are for them in this industry,” she said.
Pupils interviewed by Inside Travel echoed the exhibitors’ sentiments, with some saying that as tourism students they were now wiser because of the information that was readily available at the exhibition.
“It helps a lot. It makes us aware about how tourism is helping the country in creating jobs and contributing to the economy.
“It helps us students to know what exactly tourism is and opportunities out there,” said Zukoluhe Mashigcini from the Eastern Cape.
Mashigcini was also a participant in the learners’ debate where they made a presentation about tourism and peace. The competition was won by a pupil from KwaZulu-Natal.
Another participant, Karabo Malongane who was from Limpopo, said that the programme gave learners an insight into what tourism was about and its opportunities.
“It is helpful because it gives an insight about the industry itself and how it operates and how they work, so we get to learn more about it. I have been to a few exhibition stands and so far, they were very interesting,” she said.
The expo ends on Thursday.
The NTCE is a programme by the department of tourism designed to expose learners between Grade 9 to Grade 12 to opportunities in the tourism sector.
Deputy Tourism Minister Makhotso Magdelene Sotyu told a gala dinner on Wednesday night that she hoped the learners would use the knowledge they had gained as a foundation to build on.
“The NTCE is a great example of interconnecting different careers which all require different skill sets. As future peace makers we must try to use tourism to be part of the solution when we are confronted by conflict even climate change that might threaten our peace,” she said.
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