The Sunday News
THE tourism and hospitality industry are one of the fastest growing sectors both locally and internationally offering hundreds of exciting career and entrepreneurship opportunities. The Zimbabwe Independent reports that tourist arrivals increased to 4 percent in the nine months to September 2018 to 1,8 million from 1,7 million in the corresponding period the previous year as international perceptions of the country as a worthwhile destination saw a marked shift.
Our Matabeleland region is rich in tourist destinations. We have the mighty Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Matobo National Park, Mzilikazi Arts and Crafts Centre, Khami Ruins just to mention a few. This means that huge opportunities exist in this industry for both employment and entrepreneurship and acquiring the necessary skill set is a must.
Whether you want to be an entrepreneur or professional our Tourism and Hospitality programme offered through the Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality, empowers you to be such. All CTH programmes are endorsed by industry leaders, providing you with an international study programme that is globally recognised and in demand in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Once you do the CTH tourism management course staying out of employment is your own choice just as staying in employment is your own choice. The following are some of the career and entrepreneurship opportunities available.
Tourist Guide Business
One of the travels and tourism-related business that an entrepreneur can successfully start with little or no money is to become a tourist guide. All that is required to successfully launch this type of business is to ensure that you can speak at least one or more foreign languages. This could be English, French, Spanish Chinese, Portuguese or German. Furthermore, you must also know the terrain well. Once you are certain that you can effectively translate or interpret and then all that is expected of you to do is to position yourself in the places where you can have access to tourists. This could be in a hotel lobby (you would have to negotiate with the hotel manager) or via referrals from a travels and tours company.
Restaurant and Bar
This is one of the industries that will never die as people enjoy entertainment and of course need food. Although most tourists may prefer to eat the food they are familiar with, it wouldn’t be out of place if you could also include some local delicacy as part of the food you sell in your restaurant. The truth is that some tourists make it mandatory to try out the local delicacies of the community they are visiting. So, ensure that you include local delicacies as part of the food you sell in your restaurant if your restaurant is in a tourist town. This industry attracts both international and locals.
Start Language Translation Services
According to the Zimbabwe Special Economic Zone Authority, there are many areas of development in the Matabeleland region. This will see people coming from different parts of the world investing in this industry. One of the most important aspects is that of communication with the locals. Language translation services is therefore another thriving and profitable business one can start.
Photography Business
Photography business is an added business venture in the value chain of travels and tourism industry. Although most tourists would always travel with their cameras to capture beautiful sites and moments albeit in an armature manner, but if they have the option to make use of a professional photographer, they would embrace it. You can consider opening your photography studio stationed near a tourist attraction.
Souvenir Shop
Load of visitors prefer to buy local crafts, unique gifts or native wear from a tourist town as a mark of remembrance. Ensure that the shop is well located and looks attractive.
Vehicle Rental Business
Vehicle rental business is one of the most key businesses. Tourists would want to rent vehicles to move them from one point to another. Vehicles could include cars, scooters, boats, canoes or even horses.
This article is prepared and presented in the interest of providing free career guidance and counselling to all people who value education and training as a critical cornerstone to success in life. Trust Academy invites all people, with or without O-levels as well as degree holders who have a dilemma or are unsure of what career path to pursue to visit their offices on 3rd Floor, Haddon and Sly building, corner Fife Street and 8th Avenue for FREE career guidance. Alternatively, write to: [email protected] or WhatsApp 0712212179.
