mzanzi addition 6 digital text2

WOMEN LEAD THE
WAY IN SA TOURISM
The ever-growing tourism industry in South Africa is one of the country’s biggest
contributors to jobs and revenue, contributing around 3% to the national economy
and having created around 500,000 jobs. Thousands of these positions are filled by
women, from tour guides right up to Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa.
Despite women still being a minority in the tourism industry, these women are
all playing a leading role in ensuring tourism remains one of the most dynamic
industries in the country.
With Women’s Month and Tourism Month coming up in August and September
respectively, we spoke to four leading women in tourism to get their views on the
industry and their jobs.
Lulama Tshabalala, Executive
for Tourism Marketing, Limpopo
Tourism Agency
Lulama Tshabalala has been in her current
position at the head of tourism marketing in
Limpopo province since 2007. Before that
she held several managerial positions in the
education, tourism and hospitality sectors.
She holds a degree in business administration,
as well as a travel bag full of diplomas and
certificates, notably in public relations,
PC training, business management, brand
management, communication and marketing
for government officials, strategic destination management and knowledge
management.
So how did she get into a career in tourism?
Back in 1992, whilst on holiday in Cape Town, a tour guide, with a heavy British
accent made her decide that she wouldn’t have a foreigner educate her on her own
country. Unable to take up a scholarship for hospitality studies at Lincoln University,
she jumped at the opportunity of a job as admin clerk at the Asia desk of the former
SA Tourism (Satour) when it presented itself. She found new friends and mentors
who taught her all about the industry. Among others, she became actively involved
in the ShotLeft and Welcome initiaves, as well as in activating township tourism.
How does she see the role of women in tourism?
“I absolutely believe that women occupy a special place in the tourism and travel
industry. It is all about service; it is very emotional; so who better than the mighty
woman,” she says. She mentions several African sayings to illustrate the point that women
are born nurturers and have the relevant background for the job.
Lulama believes community-based tourism initiatives and co-operatives can be accessible
as a suitable entry point for women. But, she says, there is room for fast-tracking more
qualified women into more senior position, for instance at director’s and board level.
Gender aspects remain a challenge, she says.
To this end she believes the upcoming Women’s and Tourism months are important
reminders of the role women should play in tourism and the economy.
Her best travel experiences?
She says she has been blessed and privileged to have travelled widely around the world,
and no one destination can be singled out over the others. But inter-acting with fellow
Africans, doing the Levuvhu trails and crisscrossing the rivers of southern Africa, do stand
out for her. She adds, there is no better destination than travelling in South Africa.
Lulama sees tourism as being essential to the domestic economy. In her view, some
of the main challenges revolve around maintenance of facilities and roads, pricing and
remaining competitive.
Advocate Neo
Sephoti, Head of
North West Tourism
Advocate Neo Sephoti leads a demanding life,
being a practising advocate while at the same
time heading up North West province’s tourism
department, which she joined in February 2016.
Before that she held the positions of Corporate
Affairs Manager at SA Breweries and Director:
Regulatory Services with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. At one
time she also was a lieutenant in the South African Defence Force.
How does she feel about her work in tourism?
“I have enjoyed every bit of my professional life and am still as passionate about my work
as I was when I started working in 1993. For someone who has always had a love of life
and people, the choice of a career has always cantered on what good and joy I could bring
into the workplace. It has always been my belief that you should find work that you love
doing and are passionate about.”
She believes that a solid family structure is important for female professionals. “We are
not wonder women. We just have to strike a balance between our work and family life,”
she says.
24 |ISSUE 6|www.mzanzitravel.co.za | MZANZI TRAVEL