Addressing the Skills Shortage Problem of the South African Tourism and Hospitality Industry: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the 2007/2008 SA Host Training Program in the Western Cape Province

Abstract

The issue of skills shortage has been central to the discussions on economic growth and development in South Africa. Education and skills development are listed as one of the seven "Priorities for Intervention" constraints in the 2006 Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa. The objectives of this study were to establish the competency levels of tourism/ hospitality industry employees on a list of nontechnical hospitality skills, assess the skills gap between employer expectations and employee performance on these skills, evaluate the impact of the 2007/2008 SA Host training program in reducing that gap and improving employee skills. The results showed an improvement in employee performance and a reduction in the skills gaps after the training.

Education and skills in tourism: Implications for youth employment in South Africa

“…The TNA suggests that those in elementary jobs have a bleak future, they typically: are those with the lowest qualifications, do not continue their education and training after being employed, and stay in the same job for years. Positions held in T&H relative to race need to be scrutinized further since observers stress that in South Africa Black females with low levels of education characteristically occupy low level T&H jobs (Kaplan, 2004;Maumbe and van Wyk, 2011). This said, this findings outlined above corresponds with the international literature which point to limited opportunities for youth in T&H (Baum, 2015;Baum et al, 2016;Mooney, 2016;Zampoukous & Ioannides, 2011).…”

“…Tourism employment has grown globally and despite youth making up a large proportion, in some cases the bulk of the workforce, the sector offers limited opportunities for growth (Baum, 2015;Baum et al, 2016;Mooney, 2016;Zampoukous & Ioannides, 2011). The sector is seen as one with low entry barriers and work is accordingly associated with low pay, long hours, temporary/seasonal work and high staff turnover (Baum, 2015;Baum et al, 2016;de Beer et al, 2014;Maumbe & van Wyk, 2011;Tsangu et al, 2017;Zampoukous & Ioannides, 2011). At the same time, low paying precarious jobs, especially in hospitality, are typically occupied by youth, women and migrants who have few options, if any, for progressing upwards (Baum et al, 2016;Maumbe & van Wyk, 2011;Mooney, 2016;Zampoukous & Ioannides, 2011).…”

Tourisms development impacts: an appraisal of workplace issues, labour and human development

“…This said, education and training in T&H is lacking in many developing country contexts, especially on the tertiary level (Booyens, 2020;Shakeela et al, 2012). As a result, human resource capabilities and overall skill levels in tourism are observed to be particularly low in African countries for example (Maumbe & van Wyk, 2011;Mayaka & Akama, 2007).…”