KHOTSO CHRISTIAN CHAKA

Youth in Tourism

Nominee's Province:
Free State

Age:
31

Project Name/Description:

More info:

Khotso Desmond Christian Chaka, professionally known as Chris Chaka, fell in love with tourism at a young age. He went on all tours from high school to university, which fuelled his ambition to start a tourism business. Chaka holds an NDip in Tourism Management and a BTech in Project Management from the Central University of Technology, Free State. He is currently pursuing his MBA with a UK-based institution. Chaka established Afrikan Native Travel in 2017. Headquartered in Bloemfontein, the company is also establishing a new office in Cape Town. “We are well positioned in the industry by being fully accredited and affiliated with the two main watchdogs of travel in the world which are the International Air Transportation Association and the Association of Southern African Travel Agents. We are one of the needed experts in travel within the Free State province,” Chaka explains. The Department of Tourism assisted them during the pandemic through the relief fund and by sponsoring their participation at the Africa Tourism Indaba for 2022 and 2023. Lastly, the department funded the company to attend the 2023 South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange and roadshows in India. Chaka is passionate about the tourism industry because he believes that it is the best industry to solve issues such as youth unemployment. “Tourism is one of the biggest contributors to the country’s GDP. It gives people the ability to refresh and regain strength,” he says.