The unprecedented growth in the hospitality and tourism industries has created an urgent demand for skilled professionals. These industries are expected to be the single-largest employers in the 21st century, locally and internationally, says Dr Jane Spowart, head of Technikon Witwatersrand’s (TWR) school of tourism and hospitality.
Travel and tourism are the two engines that drive the industry. The Tourism and Hospitality Education and Training Authority (Theta) says that there are about 42 000 employers and 600 000 employees in both the formal and informal sectors — including small, medium and micro enterprises, according to Leon Storm, marketing and resource generation manager at TWR.
‘Hospitality organisations account for 85% of these employers and half a million employees. The tourism sector accounts for approximately 39 000 employees, and sports and recreation for 34 400.”
There is a particular shortage of skilled chefs and management staff. Theta’s statistics also show that 95% of all graduates leave the industry three to five years down the line. They often become entrepreneurs and open bed and breakfasts, and bakeries or run government feeding schemes in township schools. But 50% of the male graduates stay in the industry for five to 10 years.
South Africa has six technikon hotel schools. The Wits Technikon school offers industry-related lecturing and has strong industry relationships.
The technikon’s training is practical and the majority of its graduates are employed immediately. Many of them get positions within establishments where their in-service training took place. Pupils who complete the diploma no longer work exclusively in hotels, restaurants and resorts, Spowart says. They are recruited for the management teams of cruise liners, theme parks, lodges, golf and country clubs, casinos, airline catering companies, conference facilities — ‘as a matter of fact, these graduates are employable in any environment that demands quality customer service”. The school offers diplomas in tourism management, hospitality management, and food and beverage management, among others. The duration of study is three years, and includes in-service training.
Applicants must have a grade 12 certificate with higher-grade pass in English or a D at standard grade. Recommended school subjects are home economics, hospitality studies, accounting and business economics.