As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the tourism industry continues to play a vital role in shaping cultures, economies, and communities. There are of course those with the opinion that tourism as an industry has suffered a huge knock, particularly after the global Covid-19 pandemic. But what does the future hold for tourism in South Africa?
To gain insights into the industry’s current state and prospects, we spoke with Avela Shushu, a tour guide at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. With several years of experience and a deep passion for nature conservation, Avela shared his thoughts on the industry’s biggest misconceptions, the potential for growth, and advice for young adults looking to pursue a career in tourism.
Who is Avela Shushu?
– Avela is a 27 year old South African; a student working towards a Masters Degree in Sociology who has a growing passion for conservation and preservation of the natural environment and all its inhabitants.
Given the opportunity, how would you explain your field of work in layman’s terms?
– Working with wildlife, educating guests/clients [and giving them] a better understanding to interpret behaviour and signs of animals and the environment as simple as possible for anyone to understand. Take guests/clients on safari and make people’s dreams come true.
How did you land up in the career (i.e. what did you study?) Was it something you were always passionate about?
– I’ve always been passionate about the outdoors and right from the get-go I knew I was not meant for the office, “pushing paper.”
– After university I studied at MORE Field Guide College in Thabazimbi (Limpopo) where I learnt the art of field guiding. It’s relatively a simple course which gives one an introduction to becoming a field guide. Much of the knowledge is built on the job.
(Source: https://www.shamwari.com/experiences/safari-game-drives/)
What are some of the biggest misconceptions about the job you do?
– It is not a career, it’s just a job. Some do not understand that there is a whole different career to being a guide, there’s growth and what makes it such a beautiful industry is that everyone has their own niche. Therefore, it’s possible for one to specialize in their niche. For example, a love for flowers, one can become a specialist in Botany.
Looking at the current state of South Africa, is the tourism industry thriving or is there still much potential for growth?
– There is still plenty of room for growth, especially in exposing the industry to the public.
To the young adult out there who is thinking of studying towards a Tourism degree or the like, what advice would you give them that will help them secure a sustainable career?
– Know what you like and what your strong points are. Tourism is an easy industry if you are doing something you like and in which you are eager to grow. You could see yourself travel the world because tourism is everywhere. Research what you want. To have a secure and sustainable career in Tourism, you have to allow yourself to grow, always seek to improve the person you were yesterday.
