Johannesburg – 15 November 2013. Eight budding entrepreneurs completed their tour operator training today and were awarded their certificates by the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA).
“Education is the key to unlocking sustainability in southern Africa’s tourism services sector,” says Lin Smith, SATSA’s Training Officer and Course Coordinator. “Our many success stories from past graduates are proof to the idiom; ‘Forewarned is Forearmed’ – if you know about something beforehand, you can prepare for it. Some of our tour operator graduates have learnt this lesson so well that their efforts have been acknowledged by peers in the industry through awards and accolades, such as the Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur Awards (ETEYA). One of our graduates has even been elected to serve on SATSA’s Gauteng Chapter Committee.”
SATSA’s tour operator training courses are open to anyone. Applicants do not have to join SATSA as a member to enroll in the course and course fees have been kept low to encourage greater participation.
“As a credibility association, incorporated not for gain, SATSA’s motivation as a training provider is not profit driven but rather quality driven. The course prepares students with the necessary skills for self-employment and growing their tour operator businesses,” says Smith. Several modules are covered during the five full days of study and topics range from legal compliance issues and tourism product analysis to classifying tourists and compiling company terms and conditions of trade.
SATSA operates both nationally and regionally and offers Government Departments, Municipal Tourism Departments and local Chambers of Commerce special group training course incentives to assist with their mandated job creation initiatives. Course certificates can be white labeled to include the parastatals or organisation’s crest or logo on the Certificate, which is presented to students on successful completion of the course.
But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so what do past graduates of SATSA’s tour operator training courses have to say?
“Very informative, a must for any entrepreneur starting a tour operator business. Facilities are great and the learning material essential. Every aspect of the business in covered. Lin Smith is amazing and very knowledgeable.” Bruce Weir.
“I have been looking forward to this training and I must admit that I got more than what I came for. I am new in tourism and this course has laid a very strong foundation for my upcoming business and stimulating career. Be on the lookout for my Tour Business coming soon!!” – Kagiso Mosoand.
For more information contact Lin Smith at the SATSA National Office, Tel: +27 (0)11 886 9996 or e-mail: [email protected]
