World's T20 Tourism leaders commit to growing more jobs

Source: Tourism Update, 30/09/2015

Cape Town - South Africa has joined global tourism leaders in adopting
a declaration to create more jobs and strengthened skills development
in the tourism sector.


Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom attended the meeting of T20 countries
in Antalya, Turkey, where the declaration was adopted unanimously.


The T20 group represents the tourism ministers from G20
countries, which include some of the world`s strongest economies.


'Sustain employment and improve training in tourism'
"This declaration will consolidate our efforts to sustain employment
and improve training in tourism," said Minister Hanekom.


"I am particularly pleased that it refers specifically to measures to
enhance gender equality, to promote the value of small enterprises,
and to create more jobs for the youth in the tourism sector," said
Minister Hanekom.


'Address key challenges in SA'
"This is in line with the Department of Tourism`s strategies to
address these key challenges in our country."


The Antalya Declaration noted that tourism accounts for about 10% of
the world`s GDP, it is one of the fastest growing and most resilient
economic activities, and plays a major role in international trade.
'Tourism creates 1 in 11 jobs worldwide'
Forecasts indicate that global tourism is expected to grow further,
with international tourist arrivals reaching 1.8 billion in the next
15 years. Tourism is estimated to account for one in 11 jobs in the
world.


The T20 members agreed to develop policies that promote decent jobs,
entrepreneurship, gender equality and employment for the youth.


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The declaration commits the T20 countries to promote stronger links
between their private sectors, public sectors and education
institutions to address the gap between training needs and market
requirements.


'G20 to promote education for women and gender empowerment'
The declaration also encourages increased investment in education and
training in tourism and opens the way for exchange programmes between
developing countries and members of the G20 to promote education for
women and gender empowerment through tourism.


Minister Hanekom said that the Department of Tourism had already
started to implement some of the strategies detailed in the
declaration.


"For example, we are conducting a study to establish the needs of
small enterprises, which will help us to develop supportive programmes
that match their needs," said Hanekom.


The T20 declaration will also promote the development of green jobs in
tourism.


'Renewable engergy'
"We are also determined to make the sector more environmentally
sustainable and to create more green jobs. A project within our
Tourism Incentives Program deals specifically with retrofitting
establishments with renewable energy.


"Signing the declaration has reaffirmed that we are on the right track
in South Africa, and we will now accelerate our efforts to achieve the
aims of the declaration which the 20 countries have agreed to,"
Hanekom said.