The Department of Tourism, in partnership with the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL), held a graduation ceremony this week to recognise women who successfully completed the Executive Development Programme (EDP) for women in tourism.
The EDP is a transformation intervention that aims to upskill women for executive positions. The graduation ceremony acknowledged the achievements of 39 women who enrolled in the 2019 and 2021 legs of the EDP.
The programme saw women from across the country participate in a 12-month training programme through UNISA’s SBL, equipping them with skills to lead and drive innovative organisational strategies in their vocations.
“Today, we celebrate the outstanding performance of dedicated and determined women who, against all odds, successfully completed the Executive Development Programme. As government we revere the heroic contribution of women in all sectors, and we especially look forward to having these graduates entering the sector as leaders and drivers of change,” said Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela.
He said although women made up nearly 70% of South Africa’s tourism workforce, they were under-represented in senior positions. Women hold less than 40% of all managerial positions, less than 20% of general management roles, and between 5% and 8% of board positions in the sector.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Executive Dean for SBL, Andile Nobatyi, lauded the graduates’ achievements: “The Executive Development Programme will open a whole new world for you with endless opportunities. I urge you to plough back into the industry as leaders that will champion the advancement of the tourism sector.”
EDP graduate Zukiswa Quagraine, said: “Through the EDP, I gained a broad knowledge of business management and finance. However, I have learned that having confidence, a leadership style and a network of influential women is critical to one’s success.”
Female empowerment prioritised globally
As the world rebuilds after the COVID-19 pandemic, empowerment of women has been prioritised globally as countries work to deliver on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 2019 second edition of the UNWTO Report of Women in Tourism highlights the sector’s ability to drive the 5th UN Sustainable Development Goal to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. The report’s action plan calls on the public and private sectors to tailor gender-sensitive policies to yield impactful advancements in women’s empowerment.
Mahlalela emphasised the Department’s commitment to creating a transformed and inclusive sector that enabled all.
“As we rebuild tourism, we join the global community and take inspiration from the findings of the UNWTO study on women in tourism to review our empowerment programmes. We will also be reviewing the EDP to better meet the demand and skills requirements that will enable women to thrive in the sector,” he said.
Since its inception in 2016, the Department has invested R8 million (€470 000) in the EDP and it has capacitated 120 women in managerial and entrepreneurial skills. A total of 94 women have successfully graduated from the programme with some advancing as entrepreneurs, or being promoted as managers in their fields.
