“Building a Sustainable Tourist Guiding Sector for South Africa”
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms Tokozile Xasa says that by building a sustainable tourist guiding sector, South Africa demonstrates our resolution to professionalise tourist guiding in the country. She was speaking at the International Tourist Guide Day celebrations in Limpopo today.
The International Tourist Guide Day is celebrated on 21 February globally. On this day, the tourism sector acknowledges and celebrates the ambassadorial role played by tourist guides within the tourism industry.
In professionalising the sector, Deputy Minister Xasa said we have made remarkable strides which include the finalisation of the tourist guide strategy. This process has resulted in the department together with stakeholders in the industry identifying areas that require a review of the legislation.
The tourist guide sector’s competitiveness is driven by the type of service we deliver and therefore Deputy Minister Xasa reiterated that the department will continue to invest in human resources.
“Our president in the State of the Nation Address indicated that government would focus on increasing ‘the number of youth’ who enters learnerships in the private and public sectors. Indeed the professionalisation of tourist guiding in the country would directly contribute to this national effort”.
The national Department of Tourism has embarked on the training and development initiatives in order to ensure that every visitor’s encounter with our ambassadors results in a positive and memorable experience. The department has partnered with the Tourism, Hospitality, Sport Education and Training Authority (THETA) and Local Organising Committee (LOC) in an initiative to train 15 000 volunteers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup on “Know Your Country Know your City” Module. This module supports the marketing efforts of the South African tourism, provincial marketing authorities and the host cities. During the 2009 Confederations Cup, we trained 3 994 volunteers.
With regards the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the national Department of Tourism has partnered with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to train 50 guides in French, 19 in Spanish, 22 in German and 29 in Portuguese.
Various activities have been planned throughout the country to create awareness and award service excellence in the tourist guiding sector. Each province will award the top three tourist guides who will be honoured during the Welcome Awards at the national Tourism Indaba in May 2010, where the national winner will be announced.
The deputy minister further said that the Welcome Awards are aimed at raising the bar in terms of service delivery and visitor experience and to ensure that a holiday in South Africa becomes a life changing experience and that visitors return home as Ambassadors for South Africa.
Enquiries can be referred to:
Jay Singh
Cell: 082 654 4699
Issued by: Department of Tourism
20 February 2010
Source: Department of Tourism (http://www.tourism.gov.za/)
