First Hospitality and Tourism Academy for Mpumalanga

Premier Thabang Makwetla and Education MEC Siphosezwe Masango officially opened the Provincial Hospitality and Tourism Academy on Tuesday, 15 March 2005 outside Nelspruit, next to KaNyamazane Township.

Premier Thabang Makwetla said the Mpumalanga Hospitality and Tourism Academy is aimed at empowering the youth with practical skills to be able to serve the fast growing tourism and hospitality industries in Mpumalanga.

“The tourism industry is one of the important economic drivers of our provincial growth and development strategy as a government we will continue to take interest in helping it grow,” Mr. Makwetla said.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Government injected an amount of R11, 9 million to this prestigious project.

This project is the first of its kind in the Province and is set provide both theoretical and practical knowledge to students.

The CEO Mr Davies Moropane of the Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust, a government parastatal championing this initiative said, graduates from this institution would be placed at various institutions for employment.

“We are a demand –led training institution and we train people to be employed and encourage them to start their own businesses using the acquired skills,” Mr. Moropane said.

The academy can accommodate approximately 120 students in diploma and certificate programmes.

A variety of courses will be offered including housekeeping (accommodation), food and drink services (waiter, bar tender and banquette), front office (reception and administration), tour guiding and operating, ecotourism and adventure tourism, among others.

A hotel will be opened in April 2005, to provide experiential training for the students.

Issued by Communications

Office of the Premier

Vusi Shabangu (Information Journalist)

(013) 766 2266