Southern Africa youth sustainable tourism development essay competition |07 November 2013

Seychellois children invited to take part

School children aged between 12 and 17 years from primary and secondary schools in the country are being invited to take part in the first regional youth in tourism essay competition.

The competition is being organised by the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (Retosa).

Retosa is the tourism implementing agency for the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) region and its primary objective is to promote tourism growth and development in the Southern Africa region.

Its members are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

A communiqué from Retosa said it expects a total of 150 schools from countries of the Sadc region including Seychelles to take part in this inaugural competition.

The theme for the regional youth in tourism essay competition is ‘Turning Southern Africa into a Competitive and Green Tourism Destination’.

The communiqué writes: “This can only be achieved through deliberate engagement and exposing the youths to critical tourism issues and get them involved in national and regional tourism at an early age for them to take over the reigns as they are the future leaders. This will also help them to understand the concept of sustainable tourism development’’.

It adds that Retosa realises that this age group is a critical component in the sustainable development of tourism in southern Africa and this is also in order to create a regional platform for purposes of mainstreaming scholars in tourism programmes.

The deadline for submission of essays is November 30. This is to ensure that all member states encourage as many pupils to take part.

 Two winners from primary and secondary school levels will be crowned southern Africa junior tourism ministers for one year.
 
The two junior ministers and their teachers will be sponsored to the regional Youth in Tourism Arts Festival and Conference to be held in Lilongwe, Malawi from December 12-13, 2013.

More information about the essay competition can be obtained on the Retosa website which can be accessed at www.retosa.co.za and all essays taking part in the competition should be emailed to research@retosa.co.za or rpd@retosa.co.za