​Earlier today, I had the pleasure of addressing the graduates of the National Youth Chef Programme. I am thrilled that these new chefs will be using their skills in the tourism and hospitality sector here in the Mother City.

This programme, funded by the National Department of Tourism, speaks to promoting service excellence, a key element in the tourism sector.

Programmes like these are very close to my heart and relate directly to one of my department’s key purposes -  to establish skills pipelines for the high growth sectors that will create employment and economic growth in Cape Town.

I have had fruitful discussions with the National Department of Tourism about future cooperation to provide skills for tourism and hospitality industry.
Just last week, I launched the Tourism Monitor programme which is also funded by the Department of Tourism, within a week of adopting the City’s Tourism Development Framework. I am serious about making tourism a game-changer for the residents of Cape Town to ensure that we grow the sector and employ many more individuals.

The Tourism Monitor programme promotes access to education and training opportunities to school leavers by providing skills and knowledge linked to various local and national tourist sites. These Tourism Monitors were deployed to several areas and attractions throughout Langa, Khayelitsha, Hout Bay and the CBD.
As a City, we are ready to take tourism to the next level and increase the 300 000 jobs that the tourism sector sustains for the benefit of the residents of Cape Town.

End