Economic Opportunities
With reference to the 16% growth recorded in the tourism sector of the Western Cape,
(1) how many jobs have been created; (a) full-time, (b) temporary and (c) seasonal jobs;
(2) how many (a) skills development opportunities and (b) beneficiaries benefitted and (c) in which areas;
(3) what percentage of this growth benefitted the local tourism sector?
[3.1] How many jobs have been created; [a] full-time, [b] temporary and [c] seasonal jobs;
Indications suggest that the Western Cape experienced its best tourism season yet. This view is supported by the tourism sector which reported extremely high capacity figures.
We have also seen investment into new hospitality infrastructure, including several new hotels in the central business district.
And as a result of Project Khulisa, our plan to accelerate growth in the tourism sector, there has also been investment in new tourism products. These investments are drawing more visitors, and creating jobs for residents, which is our number one strategic goal.
The 16 per cent growth number is associated with international arrivals as released by the Airports Company of South Africa. There are no statistics available as yet from Stats SA and SA Tourism for tourism sector growth and employment in 2016, but growth is expected to be close to 16 per cent. Initial estimates based on historical trends show that such growth could lead to in the region of 20 900 jobs being created in the tourism sector.
Stats SA does not track temporary and seasonal jobs within the tourism sector. As a result, it is not possible to determine full-time versus temporary jobs at this time. However a general survey of 50 Cape Town firms indicates that for 2014, 28.5 % of jobs were temporary.
[3.2] How many [a] skills development opportunities and [b] beneficiaries benefitted and [c] in which areas?
In 2016 we placed 97 Tourism and hospitality workers.
Customer Service [Service Excellence] in Cape Town, Laingsburg, Prins Albert and Beaufort West
- Number recruited: 112
- Number that started the training: 93
- Number of beneficiaries who completed and found competent: 89
Hospitality Training
- False Bay College: Metro
- Number of learners started: 60
- Number of learners who completed the training: 55
- South Cape College: Plettenberg Bay
- Number of learners started:20
- Number of learners who completed the training: 17
- Boland College: Paarl
- Number of learners started: 27
- Number of learners who completed the training: 18
[3.3] What percentage of this growth benefitted the local tourism sector?
As explained, growth is expected to be close to 16% for the Western Cape. All of this growth is expected to benefit the local tourism sector.
