Template Image
Capacity Building in Tourism Education
South Africa is the dominant tourism market on the African continent. Tourism to the South African economy is vitally significant as the industry encompasses multiple interrelated businesses that include lodging, natural and built attractions, restaurants, travel agents, tour operators, etc. Given the interdependency of multiple businesses, it is important to maintain and further enhance tourism with a sustained long-term growth strategy for destinations and the nation’s economy.
Tourism in South Africa has largely been focused on the core products of parks, wildlife, nature and culture. In the last two decades, the product mix has been diversified to incorporate marine and coastal areas, rural communities and townships, events, urban centers, and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. The market is largely comprised of visitors from Africa and the Middle East with a growing international market.
The government expects to increase international arrivals to 10 million by 2010 in concert with the FIFA World Cup event. Given the projected increases in visitors, the potential to expand this sector to generate more income, employment and other benefits is enormous, considering the current level of tourism development. Tourism growth is dependent on a number of factors such as, development and improvement of infrastructure, information, facilities, hospitality training, tourism research and education, transportation options, safety and security, which are all further needed in South Africa.
Capacity building and institutional development through training is a key component for the vitality and sustainability of the tourism industry in South Africa. In order to address this major need, the University of Florida and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Tshwane, South Africa have formulated a partnership to strengthen its teaching, research, service and faculty development initiatives in tourism management.
Capacity Building in Tourism Education
For more information: visit Center for Tourism Research and Development website.
