Free State to host Tourism Career Expo

The Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) will on 4 and 5 August 2022, host the Provincial Tourism Career Expo (PTCE) to reintroduce Tourism and Hospitality as a future employer as well as career of choice for young people and help broaden skills base among the young people in the Free State.

This follows a devastating two year COVID-19 pandemic which crippled many businesses especially Tourism sector, Small and Medium enterprises.

Through this Expo Tourism and Hospitality organizations can promote their companies and afford tourism learners exposure to the potential employment and business opportunity in the sector.

About 395 Tourism, Hospitality and Consumer Studies Grade 10 – 12 learners from across the province and Motheo TVET College, CUT final year and postgraduate students are expected to grace the expo. Learners will participate in a Schools’ Competition where they will be baking, preparing food, soft furnishing and public speaking.

Winners of the respective competitions will receive prizes.

The final year and postgraduate diploma students from CUT and Motheo TVET College will also participate in the Youth Business Zone (YBZ), where they will present their different business ideas related to tourism and hospitality to a panel of industry experts.

The best business idea will receive R50 000.00 while the second and third best will receive R20 000.00 and R10 000.00 respectively.

DESTEA MEC: Mr. Makalo Mohale thanks the Free State Department of Education, Central University of Technology (CUT), Motheo TVET College and CATHSSETA for partnering with DESTEA to ensure that the 2022 expo become a success.

About 25 industry experts will share their expertise.

64 exhibitors from Tourism sub-sectors such as Hospitality, Marketing, Events Management, Transport, Tourism Academia and Tourism Development will also form part of the expo.

Source: Government of South Africa