Limpopo youth get skills through tourism
The Department of Tourism in conjunction with Sanparks honoured 106 young people from the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces who successfully completed the tourism monitors training programme.
Graduates received CATHSSETA accredited (NQF level 2-4) national certificates in occupationally directed education training and development practices, as well as tourist guiding, project management, nature conservation, and new venture creation. The programme is part of a greater objective of the national tourism sector strategy to ensure an adequately skilled and professional tourism workforce that is able to deliver a world-class visitor experience.
Tourism has long been viewed as a sector that has the potential to grow the economy and create opportunities. Speaking at the event in the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) Berg en Dal rest camp, Deputy Minister of Tourism Fish Mahlalela highlighted the significance of multi-sector partnerships in fast-tracking economic growth, and in creating much-needed opportunities for the youth. “The tourism monitors you see today are an extension of the critical services that are provided by various cross-cutting sectors of our economy that contribute to tourist safety, and an enhanced visitor experience.
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Our collaboration with Sanparks has been impactful. “Not only has it amassed benefits for the conservation community, but it has offered a lifeline to the youth in the communities that border our national parks. Multi-sector partnerships are critical, and will continue to play a key role in sustainable tourism and our overall economy,” said Mahlalela. In 2019, the department entered into a three-year agreement with Sanparks to implement the tourism monitors the programme. Learners were placed at all national parks in South Africa, including the KNP, to gain theoretical and workplace training.
“Through this collaboration, we have invested in the youth who will safeguard our natural resources for the benefit of generations to come. Out of the 259 youths who enrolled for the tourism monitors programme, Sanparks has employed 130 at its 21 national parks,” said the KNP Managing Executive, Oscar Mthimkhulu. “We are extremely proud of our contribution to youth empowerment, but mostly in our efforts to usher in a new understanding of the importance of conservation, and the overall functioning of our national parks,” added Mthimkhulu.
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The programme is one of a number of initiatives that the department implements and is aimed at empowering the youth in the sector. Graduates of the programme shared their learnership experience with guests and thanked both entities for initiating the programme. Shedron Mukhumo said the programme taught him the importance of conserving and preserving natural resources for future generations. “It has also opened my eyes to a variety of opportunities that I didn’t know existed in tourism. I’m currently a Sanparks research assistant and I am proud of playing a critical role in conversing our natural resources.” Young people can visit www.tourism.gov.za to learn more about the skills programmes that are currently being advertised in the sector.
