Mpumalanga
15 March 2006
Premier Thabang Makwetla and Education MEC Siphosezwe Masango officially
opened the Provincial Hospitality and Tourism Academy on Tuesday, 15 March
2005, outside Nelspruit, next to KaNyamazane Township. Premier Thabang Makwetla
said the Mpumalanga Hospitality and Tourism Academy is aimed at empowering the
youth with practical skills to be able to serve the fast growing tourism and
hospitality industries in Mpumalanga.
âThe tourism industry is one of the important economic drivers of our
provincial growth and development strategy as a government we will continue to
take interest in helping it grow,â Mr Makwetla said. The Mpumalanga Provincial
Government injected an amount of R11,9 million to this prestigious project.
This project is the first of its kind in the Province and is set provide
both theoretical and practical knowledge to students.
The CEO Mr Davies Moropane of the Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust, a
government parastatal championing this initiative said, graduates from this
institution would be placed at various institutions for employment. âWe are a
demand led training institution and we train people to be employed and
encourage them to start their own businesses using the acquired skills,â Mr
Moropane said.
The academy can accommodate approximately 120 students in diploma and
certificate programmes. A variety of courses will be offered including
housekeeping (accommodation), food and drink services (waiter, bar tender and
banquette), front office (reception and administration), tour guiding and
operating, ecotourism and adventure tourism, among others. A hotel will be
opened in April 2005 to provide experiential training for the students.
Enquiries please contact:
Office of the Premier
Vusi Shabangu (Information Journalist)
Tel: (013) 766 2266
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
15 March 2006
Source: Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za)
