South Africa’s North West Department of Tourism has provided more than 100 young people with tour guide training over the past year. It is part of an initiative to enhance tourism in the region by recruiting young people and equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed.
Gabriel Dichabe, Provincial Registrar, said: “Our target is to train 200 young people in culture guiding and 40 more in adventure guiding. In the future, we hope to make the training more valuable by adding nature guiding.”
The programme offers training in communication and presentation skills, first aid, entrepreneurship and marketing, as well as training on the heritage and history of the attractions in the province.
Dichabe said, with the training, the department hoped to increase the number of people in the industry. “We are preparing them to be absorbed into the job market. For instance, through our partnership with the Department of Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs, some will be able to work in a number of cultural villages that will be developed.”
As one of the beneficiaries of the programme, Lebogang Mojanaga established his own business, running cultural tours in the province. “There are many programmes that the department offers,” said Mojanaga. “Young people should participate as much as they can in tourism; we have a lot of history we can share with the world. This is an economically viable route for those with a passion for tourism.”
Applications for the next round of training close on July 31. Applicants must submit an updated CV, one-page motivation letter and certified copies of their ID and matric certificate to Dichabe at gdichabe@nwpg.gov.za or Molebogeng Morubane at mmorubane@nwpg.gov.za. For more info, call +27 18 387 7801.
