What is CATHSSETA?
CATHSSETA is one of South Africa’s 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) established under the Skills Development Act.
Its role is to improve education, occupational training, and workforce development across the tourism, hospitality, culture, arts, conservation, gaming, and sport industries.
Working alongside employers, universities, TVET colleges, accredited training providers, government departments, and industry associations, CATHSSETA helps address skills shortages while improving the competitiveness of these sectors.
South Africa’s Tourism and Creative Economy Depends on Skills
From the hotels of Cape Town and game reserves in Limpopo to sporting events, theatres, museums, restaurants, and travel companies, South Africa’s tourism and creative industries employ hundreds of thousands of people.
These sectors are more than just entertainment they contribute billions of rand to the country’s economy every year while creating employment opportunities for chefs, tour guides, hotel managers, event coordinators, artists, conservation professionals, and sports administrators.
Behind much of this workforce development is the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA).
Industries Supported by CATHSSETA
CATHSSETA supports skills development across a diverse range of industries, including:
- Tourism
- Hospitality
- Hotels and Lodges
- Restaurants
- Travel and Tourism Services
- Museums and Heritage
- Arts and Culture
- Performing Arts
- Gaming and Betting
- Sport and Recreation
- Nature Conservation
- Event Management
Each of these industries requires a combination of technical expertise, customer service, leadership, and operational skills.
Career Opportunities Within the Sector
Training supported through CATHSSETA can prepare individuals for careers such as:
- Tour Guide
- Hotel Manager
- Chef
- Professional Cook
- Event Coordinator
- Travel Consultant
- Guest Relations Officer
- Conservation Officer
- Sports Administrator
- Museum Curator
- Restaurant Supervisor
- Tourism Officer
Skills Development Opportunities
CATHSSETA supports several workforce development initiatives designed to help South Africans enter or progress within the industry.
These include:
Learnerships
Structured programmes that combine classroom based learning with practical workplace experience.
Apprenticeships
Industry based artisan training where applicable within hospitality and facility maintenance occupations.
Internships
Graduate workplace experience programmes offered through participating employers.
Skills Programmes
Short occupational programmes that strengthen industry-specific competencies.
Bursaries
Funding opportunities may be available for qualifications that address identified industry skills shortages.
Where Do Opportunities Come From?
Many organisations work with CATHSSETA to develop future talent, including:
- Hotels
- Resorts
- Restaurants
- Travel Agencies
- Airlines
- Nature Reserves
- Museums
- Cultural Institutions
- Sporting Organisations
- Event Companies
- Government Tourism Departments
These employers regularly participate in workplace learning and skills development initiatives.
Why CATHSSETA Matters
Tourism, hospitality, arts, culture, and sport are labour-intensive industries that create employment across urban and rural communities.
By investing in skills development, CATHSSETA helps improve service quality, support economic growth, preserve South Africa’s cultural heritage, and prepare young people for meaningful careers in industries with strong long-term potential.
Thabang Maimela’s Perspective
Many people associate tourism careers only with becoming a tour guide or working in a hotel. In reality, this sector is incredibly diverse. It includes business management, marketing, culinary arts, conservation, events, customer experience, digital tourism, and destination management.
Through YouthSETA, we’ve seen increasing interest in hospitality learnerships and tourism internships, especially from young people looking to enter service industries with opportunities to grow internationally. My advice is to develop strong customer service, communication, and leadership skills alongside your technical training they are often what set successful candidates apart.
— Thabang Maimela
Founder & Editor, YouthSETA
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CATHSSETA stand for?
CATHSSETA stands for the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority.
Which industries fall under CATHSSETA?
CATHSSETA supports tourism, hospitality, hotels, restaurants, travel services, arts, culture, museums, conservation, gaming, sport, recreation, and event management
Does CATHSSETA fund learnerships?
Yes. CATHSSETA supports learnerships, internships, apprenticeships, skills programmes, bursaries, and workplace learning initiatives.
Can graduates apply for CATHSSETA opportunities?
Yes. Many employers partner with CATHSSETA to provide internship and graduate development opportunities.
I am Thabang Maimela, Founder and Editor of CareersPursuit and YouthSETA, two South African platforms dedicated to helping individuals access employment opportunities, skills development programmes, and career growth resources. Through CareersPursuit, I focus on jobs, internships, apprenticeships, graduate programmes, learnerships, and career advice, while YouthSETA specialises in SETA learnerships, skills programmes, youth development initiatives, and workplace readiness resources. My mission is to make reliable, up to date information more accessible, helping South Africans build skills, improve employability, and navigate their career journeys with confidence. Read more about the author on the About US page.