The expo - which will be hosted by the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea) - starts on Thursday at the Central University of Technology (CUT) campus. 

The spokesperson of the department, Kgotso Tau, tells OFM News that the purpose of the expo is also to show learners the variety of career choices that is available to them.

On Thursday, they will be participating in a schools’ competition whereby they will be baking, preparing food, practising soft furnishings, and public speaking.

At the end of the day, the winners from the schools’ competition will receive prizes. 

The final year and postgraduate diploma students from CUT and Motheo TVET College will also participate in the Youth Business Zone (YBZ), where they will present their different business ideas related to tourism and hospitality to a panel of industry experts.  

The best business idea will walk away with R50 000, while the second best will walk away with R20 000 and the third best will receive R10 000.

Friday will be the main career expo day where 64 exhibitors from tourism sub-sectors such as hospitality, marketing, events management, transport, academia and tourism development are expected to form part of the event. 

During the course of the two-day expo, 25 industry experts are also expected to share their expertise.  

OFM News