23 January 2009
The South African government in partnership with the Spanish government in
2006 launched a programme that involves teaching Tourist Guides Spanish in
order for them to be able to communicate with Spanish tourists. The Tourism,
Hospitality, Sport Education and Training Authority (Theta) was the institution
tasked with the facilitation of the programme in partnership with the Spanish
University Universidad Intenacional Menendez Pelayo (UIMP).
The agreement that was reached between the two governments was that the
Spanish government would fund the programme, which piloted in Limpopo and
Gauteng. In Limpopo it started with 20 guides, whereas Gauteng had 14. Part of
the experiential training involved learners visiting the UIMP in the Spanish
town of Santender in September for a month to learn more about the Spanish
culture and language.
The next phase of the programme will take place on 2 February 2008 and will
run for the duration of three weeks at Masebe Nature Reserve. The guides will
have classes in their respective provinces, which will now also include the
Western Cape province. The provinces were chosen due to the high influx of
Spanish tourists who needed the guides to understand the Spanish culture and
language.
During the training in Spain, Elizabeth Thivhafuni a tourist guide from
Limpopo was the top student. At the end of the training in March, 12 tourist
guides who are participating will receive certificates at a graduation
ceremony. On 21 January 2009, the facilitators from UIMP, LEDET, DEAT and THETA
met in Polokwane to make the final preparations for the Spanish classes.
Issued by: Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism,
Limpopo Provincial Government
23 January 2006
Source: Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Limpopo
Provincial Government (http://www.ledet.gov.za/)
