1. 2015 PTCE CLOSE OUT REPORT (DRAFT) PROVINCIAL TOURISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE PRESENTED BY: WEZIWE BUSAKWE

2. INTRODUCTION The Provincial Tourism Careers Expo (PTCE) was hosted for the first time on the 18-19 September 2015 at the Mthatha Airport Hangers in the Eastern Cape It created an opportunity to engage with the Department of Telecommunications in increasing connectivity in the tourism destinations and ICT career and job opportunities that would enhance and add value to the quality of tourism graduates produced. Target groups were as follows: o Grades 10-12 learners: This included learners at the TVET Colleges equivalent to this level. o Students at tertiary institutions o Out of school youth with tourism qualifications PTCE is a legacy project of the National Tourism Careers’ Expo and we continue to support the NTCE. DEDEAT and ECPTA supported participation of learners in the National Tourism Careers Expo in Mangaung. Quite a number of educators and officials from the Department of Education attended the NTCE as well. Received a lot of support from the municipalities and the ECPTA.

3. OBJECTIVES Increase knowledge and information on the available and potential employment education and training opportunities in the tourism sector. Create awareness on the available and potential business / job creation opportunities in the tourism sector. Promote career guidance, multi-skilling and instil a spirit of specialisation particularly in the emerging tourism niche markets such as responsible tourism, marine tourism, rail, adventure and gambling To promote, encourage, instil and nurture entrepreneurship amongst the youth To build a pool of volunteers from the unemployed tourism graduates who can be trained and be exposed to tourism related events and/or initiatives

4. STAKEHOLDER MOBILISATION AND PARTICIPATION Learners were sourced from all the 23 districts of Department of Education through Subject Advisors and officials at district level and also municipalities Pre-registration forms for learners were sent to 22 districts thru DOE. Port Elizabeth did not respond. Direct Communication with TVET Colleges to encourage participation by students For the unemployed graduates, engagement with the OR Tambo Youth Council as well as municipalities Held meetings with the Subject Advisors and Chief Education Specialists Letters requesting support were sent to the municipalities, DOE, TVET Colleges Out of the 23 districts of the Eastern Cape Department of Education, 20 districts attended Hosted Educators’ Seminars in 5 districts as a build up - 203 educators participated Communication was done through radio, word of mouth, OR Tambo Youth Summit held in June and also during the Tourism Month Launch in Mthatha Over 2000 learners attended, 32 exhibitors, 300 walk-ins and about 200 students Continue to participate in other events that have more relevance in promotion of tourism careers, skills development and training

5. PLATFORMS Opening ceremony: o Honoured by the presence of the Member of the Mayoral Council from OR Tambo District Municipality o Deputy Minister for Telecommunications also embraced the event and highlighted the need for ICT in the tourism industry and how her department is prioritizing the Wild Coast on ICT development o Quite inspiring, young, energetic motivational speakers from diverse backgrounds within the tourism sector were used and all from Eastern Cape Adventure - a display of Drifter Raceway from Cambridge, East London. Exhibitions Work Readiness Platform which was championed by the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator Self Development Platform which was championed by the NYDA Both platforms focused on preparing the students and unemployed graduates for the world of work and improving their chances of success in the job hunting process Competitions: o Focused on tourism, hospitality and consumer studies o The Winner on tourism presented the province in Mangaung

6. CHALLENGES Poor turnout by students as the event clashed with examination time Lack of participation by municipalities on the western side of the Eastern Cape Transportation to the event a challenge as most learners could not afford to pay Most learners were attending the Expo for the first time and so there is still a need to reach out to the needy There was a poor turnout on the second day and more learners attended on the first day

7. WAY FORWARD A detailed report to be concluded and will be communicated by email A lot more is needed to create exposure on available and potential tourism career, skills development and training opportunities A lot more is needed to bridge the gap between the student and the work environment Further engagement with the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator and NYDA Engagement with environmental affairs in eco-tourism awareness sessions particularly focusing on marine tourism Need to consider a one day event