TOURISM INDUSTRY “A GOLD MINE THAT NEVER DRIES UP!”

Speaking at an informal gathering with tourism graduates, MEC Jabu Mahlangu said the “Tourism Industry is a Gold mine that never dries up”. September 16, 2009 will remain engraved in the minds of the 60 tourism graduates who were gathered to receive a message of support from the MEC a few minutes before they departed to Durban for the Career Expo.

Sixty (60) graduates have been selected from institutions that offer tourism courses; namely Tshwane University of Technology, UNISA, Boston City campus and Damelin. The Career expo focused on areas dealing with conservation, hospitality, travel and training.

The graduates had the opportunity to create their CV that will be given to recruitment agencies for them to be placed in jobs related to their expertise.Meanwhile the Mpumalanga Executive Council has also agreed to send 10 unemployed tourism graduates for placement in the USA. This is in an attempt to enhance tourism prospects in the province.

The information centres that have been established in the province (Komatipoort, Badplaas, Acornhoek, Machado and Middleburg) will be used to train some of the graduates when they come back.“Have a safe trip and God bless you in your future endeavors” added MEC Mahlangu to the energetic and enthusiastic learners. He also said he would be very proud if most of the learners will be the country's tourism ambassadors for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.