On Friday 22 November  2024, UP Campus Tours (UPCT) had the pleasure of presenting a webinar for the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research (ATLAS). After UPCT honours students had presented this in the previous four years, the anticipation to see what the 2024 postgraduate students from the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies (DHHS) at the University of Pretoria would present at the 5^th webinar was long awaited. The webinar was opened by the President of ATLAS, Prof Corne Dijkmans of Breda University in the Netherlands, who recognised the importance of UP’s students’ contribution.

The 2024 team focused on the topic of “More Than Just a Tour.” This highlights why and how UPCT is more than just a tourist guiding business, but rather a hub where aspects of confidence, cultural awareness, and conflict resolution all meet to create a unique and diversified programme. This ultimately ensures the production of world-class nationally qualified cultural tourist guides.

UPCT 2024 Team

Far Left (left to right): Heike Retief, Louisa Jordaan, Theane Brandmuller, Sharmaine Mahole, Anne-Mart Bekink

Centre (left to right): Mzingaye Hlabano, Veronique van Wyk

Far Right (left to right): Sedzani Bokaba, Angie van der Westhuizen, Promise Madonsela, Gugulethu Ndhlovu, Kagiso Mello

The team emphasised that UP Campus Tours has existed for 21 years and that as the tourism world has changed, so has the programme. They explained how UPCT has been used to create an awareness of the ever-growing and stereotypical negative perception of tourism, as well as providing ways in which to combat this. The UPCT team unpacked the ‘Wicked Problems’ that tourism faces such as – Artificial Intelligence, Overtourism, Cultural Erosion, Environmental Disruptions and Exclusivity.

This webinar also highlighted how the Honours students through archival research, finance, office administration and management, human resources, events, public relations and communications and social media and marketing laid the foundation for skills that prepared them for the world of work throughout the year. The team also recognised the importance of giving back through the pro-bono tours that allowed people from disadvantaged communities to visit the campus and highlighted how anyone can apply to go to university – an initiative also expressed by the institution. They also paid homage to previous UPCT members and how they have gone out into the working world and found employment where they continue to succeed in whatever field they are in.

The group concluded by illustrating that this programme, founded by the incomparable Professor Karen-Leigh Harris in 2002, is a microcosm of the global tourism domain. They acknowledged how the critical thinking skills and creative outputs made by the Honours students are commendable efforts that create an environment where unity exists, and compassion is at the forefront.

UP Campus Tours is more than just a tour, it is the essence of the Heritage and Cultural Tourism Honours degree, and it is not slowing down anytime soon.

Thanks are due to ATLAS for providing this opportunity and to Leontine Onderwater for her ongoing support and assistance as well as DHHS lecturers. A recording of the UPCT ATLAS webinar can be viewed below and on the ATLAS YouTube channel.