GTTP-SA hosts Northern Cape Tourism Training Conference

Tourism Teachers Sparkle at Northern Cape Conference

The first ever Tourism Education was held in the Northern Cape in 2018.  The conference themed, “Geared for Tourism – Meeting the human capital demands of a changing workplace and society” focused on a fast-changing tourism industry and the demand for a well-trained workforce with very specific skills. The conference ran from 2 – 5 October 2018.Fifty Tourism teachers from across the province and other interested parties attended the four-day conference at a local conference centre. The Northern Cape Tourism Education Conference (NC-TEC) aimed to broaden Tourism teachers’ understanding of the Tourism sector through presentations, discussions and training sessions by champions of the industry. The knowledge and skills gained at the conference helped teachers to produce the kind of talent needed by the industry.

The conference was given international flair with a presentation by Ms. Angelica Mkok,  Head of Industry Affairs, Southern Africa (Amadeus Integrated Solutions).  Amadeus is a leading provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry with its headquarters in Spain and Ms. Mkok shed more light on the digital behaviour of Generations X, Y and Z.  Mr. Salman Khan, the academic head of The Hospitality Trainers and Associates (HTA) School of Culinary Art in Johannesburg gave a jaw-dropping perspective on Tourism Education In A Digitally Divided Society.

The conference has been made possible by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Northern Cape Tourism Authority, The Global Travel and Tourism Partnership-South Africa and the Northern Cape Department of Education.

Mr. Christo Fieland studied Tourism as a grade 12 subject at Alexander Bay High School and after having qualified as a teacher, he accepted a post as a Tourism teacher at Carnarvon High School. This is what he has to say about the conference: “I learned so much at the conference and I know I will go back to school as an empowered, motivated teacher.”