Careers in travel
From mega training schools in Saudi Arabia to student-led councils in Europe, destinations, travel companies and industry organisations worldwide are working to reposition travel and tourism as a long-term career path for young people
I NS I GHT Building a
BY GEMMA GREENWOOD Future- ready workforce T he global travel and tourism industry – employing one in 10 people worldwide – is at a critical juncture. The sector has rebounded strongly after COVID-19, yet a stubborn talent gap remains. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimates around 70 million people in travel and tourism lost their jobs during the pandemic, with workers under 30 among the hardest hit. The industry supported 19 million young workers aged 15-24 in 2019, falling to 16 million in 2022, representing a 15% decline.
Although recovery is underway, youth employment still lags pre-pandemic levels in many regions, particularly where work is seasonal or based on casual contracts. Many younger people continue to
view the sector as volatile or offering limited progression. “Young workers… make up a greater share of the travel and tourism
workforce compared to the wider economy,
90 | ITB GLOBAL TRAVEL COLLECTION
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