INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Continued from page 5
The culture and heritage, both tangible and intangible assets, stand us in good stead as a country, the question is are we utilising these to our benefit in terms of travel and tourism? I must emphasise that tourism is everybody’s business. Tourists,both domestic and international, visiting our shores can enjoy a unique and authentic experience.
What have been some of your career highlights? Prior to assuming my current role, I previously served as a minister in three portfolios, science and technology, communications, and energy respectively. I joined the public sector as a skills development facilitator at the National Health Laboratory Services, and was then recruited to become a director in the Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. I then served as the Parliamentary Advisor to then Deputy President of South Africa, Mr Kgalema Motlanthe. To be given the opportunity to serve the people of South Africa in these different roles has been a privilege. I would say that my career highlights happened each time that a life of a South African changed for the better because I had performed my duty in these different roles.
As a woman in these portfolios Minister, what are lessons learnt? I think the multiple roles I play wearing
my hat as a mother, wife, daughter and sister and now PHD student at the same time and having to balance those with my role as a member of the executive. It is not easy but takes a lot of discipline, determination and effective time management.
What are your top tips for aspiring businesswomen in the travel industry field? Since I joined the portfolio, I have engaged the business sector at different levels, from SMMEs to big business. In all these engagements, I realised the importance of understanding the sector, collaboration amongst sector players and understanding the product you sell and the appropriate market to sell your product. I would urge all the women who are in the sector and those who planning to come into the sector to take these factors very seriously. Most importantly, I want them to understand that transforming a male dominated sector to be more accommodative to women will take time and despite the challenges in the short run they will need to stay the course. Collaboration amongst women becomes key in the tourism value chain. Business women in this space need each other.
What role do you see women playing in the tourism and business events sector going forward?
task and I think that their participation in all aspects of the value chain of tourism and business events will help to grow this sector in an inclusive way. Going forward we will intensify our efforts to bring more women into the sector so that we can contribute in transforming the sector to reflect the demographics of the country.
What role does the tourism sector play in South Africa? Tourism is a key sector with a significant impact on economic development and growth across the globe. For the past ten years, the sector has outperformed the global economy. The sector is unique in that it has the ability to absorb people at all levels of society from highly to lowly skilled, it happens in urban and rural areas and it has low barriers of entry for new entrants businesses. Thus, it provides us with the tools to create an economically inclusive society. For our country beset by the triple challenges of poverty (mostly affecting women), unemployment (mostly affecting the youth) and inequality, the tourism sector is very critical in helping us to confront these challenges. Tourism has the potential to contribute to greater gender equality and the empowerment of women. The majority of people employed in tourism worldwide are women, both in formal and informal jobs. Tourism offers women opportunities for incomegeneration and entrepreneurship.
Women are just as capable as their male counterparts in performing any
Women in MICE Brand Ambassador Thami Nkadimeng has been announced the Women in MICE South Africa Brand Ambassador.
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he is a message architect who conceptualises, creates and delivers messages to a wide range of audiences, across borders and boundaries, using a variety of tools and platforms to reach the objectives set. She is a South African thought leader in human behaviour and communications. Thami’s unique ability to fuse her
8 Business Events Africa March 2020
communications background with inspiring individuals to communicate with their internal strengths comes alive in her facilitation and speaking engagements. She has attained almost two decades of corporate experience in which the substantial part has been within communications, public affairs and events study and experience within the
tourism and mining space. Thami translates her inspiring communications messages to diverse audiences (cultures, races, genders and ages) with equal flair. She built her speaking skills and elegant style through consistent delivery in private, public and social platforms.
www.businesseventsafrica.com
