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Chinese Course for Stimulating South Africa Tourism
First batch of 20 South African tourism professionals systematically learned Chinese language to provide better service
By Lu Anqi  ·2016-11-30
South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom (second right), Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa Li Song (third right), and Cultural Counselor Zheng Wen (fourth right) at the certification ceremony (LI JIANGUO)
The first group of South African tourism staff trained in Chinese are heading to China for a cultural learning experience (LI JIANGUO)

At a ceremony in Johannesburg on November 29, South African tourism professionals who had undergone a three-month Chinese course received certificates from South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom.

The 20 trainees were selected from establishments frequented by Chinese tourists, who are visiting South Africa in growing numbers.

The three-month training included learning to read, write and speak Chinese as well as situational role-playing. Now the group is heading to China for a three-week cultural immersion.

"The language training will enhance the experience of our [Chinese-speaking] visitors and make their stay in South Africa even more memorable," Hanekom said.

China is the world's largest outbound market for tourism. Over 120 million Chinese tourists visited other countries last year.

South Africa has enjoyed spectacular growth in tourists from China this year. Arrivals between January and August this year showed a 64 percent increase over the same period last year, according to the Department of Tourism of South Africa.

"The ultimate aim is to improve the experience of all our tourists at every step of their journey. This will grow tourism even further, and help us to support more jobs and economic opportunities in tourism and in the many other sectors tourism relies on," Hanekom said.

Li Song, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, said with the growth in tourism cooperation between China and South Africa, the trainees will find what they have learned from the language training program increasingly relevant and useful.

"I am full of confidence that all of you will have much to contribute to our tourism cooperation and become cultural ambassadors for people-to-people exchanges between China and South Africa," he said.

The Department of Tourism is creating a database of trainees for establishments requiring Chinese-speaking staff or guides.

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