Flying the South African flag in China, Durban University of Technology (DUT) lecturer Raeesah Khan recently represented South Africa at a seminar on the integrated development of culture and tourism for developing countries.

Ms Khan, a lecturer at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism at DUT, spent two weeks at the seminar organised by the Guangxi International Business Vocational College and the People’s Republic of China and initiated by the Chinese Embassy.

Focused on sharing industry and academic expertise in the development of culture and tourism, the seminar featured participants from 11 countries who were welcomed during a grand opening ceremony attended by the president of the college, Wang Guohang.

Ms Khan said she was honoured to receive confirmation that she had been selected to represent the country after seeing the call that was forwarded to all staff by the faculty research co-ordinator, Professor Dumsile Hlengwa.

Ms Khan’s PhD study, being closely aligned with the seminar, was a huge contributing factor in her selection by the Chinese Embassy, she said.

She said she enjoyed engaging in various activities that took place during the seminar, which consisted of a combination of theory lectures by academic staff and industry professionals, as well as various site visits.

“One of the most memorable experiences was a two-day stay in the Sanjiang County with the ethnic Dong minority people who welcomed delegates with song and dance and their ethnic delicacies. I also visited the bustling city of Guangzhou to experience urban tourism. The highlight on my trip was the Canton Tower, the tallest tower in China, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of the sprawling metropolis below,” said Ms Khan.

She added that another notable activity she engaged in was visiting the Happy Journey Healthcare Centre, a subsidiary of the Guangxi Tourism Development Group that offers state-of-the-art frail care for senior citizens at a fraction of the usual cost. This she said demonstrated the positive impact of tourism development on social sustainability.

Ms Khan described her experience during the trip as enriching in terms of the knowledge she had gained, the people she met and the beautiful cities she had the opportunity to visit.

“In line with the decolonisation of the curriculum, I have learned the importance of embracing cultural tourism and leveraging our ethnic cuisines as a significant economic contributor. I hope to collaborate with other departments in our faculty and pursue student-led projects that may benefit the industry in this area,” she said.

Ms Khan said her involvement in the seminar has made a significant contribution to her professional development. She added that she will engage in such initiatives in future and is eager to share the knowledge and insights that she has gained during this seminar.

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DUT lecturer flies SA flag at culture and tourism seminar in China