The Department of Historical and Heritage Studies of the University of Pretoria (UP) recently gave a presentation at a research seminar by the National Department of Tourism (NDT) at the CSIR International Convention Centre. The seminar featured research on pertinent tourism issues carried out by a number of South African universities, including UP, the University of Venda, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the University of Johannesburg.

The UP Department’s presentation focused on the introduction of an innovative terraced model for the harmonisation of tourist guide training in seven SADC countries. This research on cross-border tourist guidance in southern Africa was commissioned in 2012, and the project is now in its fourth and final phase. 

The Department of Historical and Heritage Studies is developing a harmonised training programme that will enable tourist guides to conduct cross-border tours in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa. In the end, this research project aims to generate employment in tourism, one of the fastest growing sectors on the African continent, and to help establish southern Africa as a prominent destination dedicated to tourism excellence.

Two of the Department’s postgraduate students, Ms Jane Dewah and Ms Brenda Murowanidzwa, received prestigious bursaries from the NDT and were invited to present research related to their studies and to the project by taking part in a poster exhibition at the research seminar.

Photo caption: The NDT research project team of the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the NDT research seminar on 12 March 2015 (from left to right: Ms Jane Dewah, Ms Charlene Herselman, Prof Karen Harris and Ms Brenda Murowanidzwa)