Igniting transformation within tourism spheres

The Department of Tourism hosted the Youth Dialogue on Tourism in celebration of the legacy of youth of 1976. The Department took to Soweto Meadowlands to celebrate 25 years of democracy and youth activism in Soweto.

This initiative focused on how the department aims to grow and groom the youth within the tourism spheres. The event featured exhibitions by organisations and the government entities such as the National Youth Development agency (NYDA), the culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Education Training Authority, Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF).

As part of transforming Gauteng Tourism, the department seeks to expose the youth to opportunities which exist for them.

“It’s not always about the money. What you bring as youth to the economy is creativity and innovation, you have to come up with ideas that are going to grow the economy, which is going to be in your hands”, Dr. Tashmia of the Youth Employment service.

The Department looks to open a space where youth are able to prioritise and engage in activities that will inspire others but will also create more opportunities for them.

The role is to ensure that the youth gets access to funding for the ideas and innovations that they have. This is the role of the National Empowerment Fund , which has partnered with the Department of Tourism to create a fund called “Tourism Transformation fund“. This serves as a financial institution, an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry that funds black owned South African businesses only.

For youth with innovative ideas, business ideas, and looking to grow their businesses the Department of Tourism has put in place programmes and initiative to support and grow your ideas.