Outgoing Southern Sun Hotels MD, Helder Pereira said this week that the skills shortage is a major concern for the hospitality industry.

Speaking at the industry update for 2010 at Montecasino, on Tuesday, Pereira said the industry will be ready for the World Cup, but he cautioned that more than 43 000 skills are needed.

In his presentation, Pereira said South Africa's global competitiveness as a destination faces challenges in skills development.

Although tourism continues to grow at a steady pace with more than a million jobs created, demand still outweighs the number of skilled personnel.

"If the required skills are not developed, growth will be impeded and service standards will drop," he said.

Pereira said a combination of limited skills development and the emigration of skilled professionals have a direct effect on the industry.

"Although delivery expectations and quality remain high, the reality is that it is not being met easily," he said.

He told Tycoon that the tourism industry in the country has great potential and to realise it fully, skills development needs to be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

He said an estimated 24 100 of chefs and cooks are needed, with another 23 500 for waitrons. The industry needs 8 000 managers and 7 800 cashiers.

Pereira said while all these skills are important, managers are at the core as they concentrate on the leadership of these other skills in the hospitality industry.

He added that Southern Sun recognises this need and in response, will concentrate on a short-term solution for now and then plan for the long-term later.

As part of the short-term solution, Southern Sun will ensure that within the workplace, there are programmes aimed at identifying and developing the needed skills and those positions that employees aspire to.

Furthermore, the company will recruit internationally to meet the demand while continuing to train people for the future.

While the long-term is a lengthy process, Pereira said the industry will need government's help in working towards identifying ways of developing and retaining skills.

"Hospitality skills are very mobile and South Africa not only needs to grow their own skills but find ways to keep them," said Jabu Mabuza, executive chairman of Southern Sun.

He said Southern Sun has recently completed a skills audit and so they know what is needed and have worked a plan on how to solve the problem.

 "A lot of young people are involved in the hospitality industry and if they are properly trained and skilled for the jobs, the industry will flourish," said Mabuza.

The demands of the industry require skills, passion and a willingness to work longer hours - a rare find in the industry he said.

Because of the mobility of hospitality skills, it will take longer for South Africa to keep its skilled workers in the industry and still be able to develop more skills.

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Mabuza said this provides the country with a platform to empower its people through skills development while hosting a successful event