Skills for Employability in Tourism and Hospitality: Overviewof the Challenges and Needs After Covid-19

Abstract

The covid-19 epidemic is leading to a huge economic crisis in the short and medium term, with tourism and hospitality industry being one of the hardest hit sectors in terms of income and employment with a great amount of decline of international demand amid global travel restrictions to constrain the virus. In this context, this study attempts to draw attention to the effects of covid-19 on tourism and hospitality employment. Specifically, two major impacts on the workforce are detected and discussed within this scope: job losses and the issue of skills in the international tourism sector (challenges and needs after covid-19). Following the examination of these effects, some suggestions for the future of employment in the tourism sector were presented. The implications of this research can affect tertiary professional training institutions, which need to address necessary changes to employability skills in the curriculum. These findings provide information for development of curriculum to meet the respective needs as the industry moves through this pandemic era.