NONQABA MAKAPELA

Youth in Tourism

Nominee's Province:
North West

Age:
28

Project Name/Description:

More info:

Nonqaba Makapela has always wanted to be in the tourism industry. This is why she furthered her studies in Tourism at Vuselela TVET College. Makapela is the owner of the Klerksdorp-based Chelles Travel and Tours, which offers a variety of travel packages for companies, individuals, and groups. The packages include accommodation bookings, individual bookings, group bookings, business bookings, tour packages, cultural heritage tours and adventure tours. “I have always wanted to own my company and not work a 9:00 to 17:00 job. Other tour operators also inspired me to go into the tourism industry,” she says, adding, “Tourism has taught me a lot of things and it has showed me how to run my own company.” True to its commitment to create a thriving local tourism industry, the Department of Tourism has given her the opportunity to market her product and has exposed her to different cultures all over the world. The support also included being trained in various areas of tourism management and going to the Africa Tourism Indaba to market her company and products. “Ever since my training and the expo, my company has grown,” Makapela reports