Tourism Satellite Account as a tool for enhancing labour market statistics in tourism industry (applied to tourism sector in Egypt)

Abstract

Goal and objectives of the dissertationGoalThe goal of the study is to develop a comprehensive Tourism Human Resource Module of the Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA-HRM) which can complement and enhance the analytical capacity provided by the Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA), allowing for a broader insight into tourism's role in the economy, especially in the Egyptian economy.ObjectivesThe objectives of the study are:1. Evaluating the current situation of tourism-related employment statistics and information in Egypt.2. Formulate a TSA-HRM framework for measuring the various aspects, monetary and qualitative, of tourism human resources in the Egyptian economy environment with consistency with World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) standards of the TSA.MethodologyIn general, this study depends on primary and secondary data to reach its findings and suggest a framework to capture the human resources aspects related to the tourism sector in the Egyptian economy. The research approach for the study is a case study that allows the empirical testing of the anticipated framework on a national statistical system. Egypt was selected as the case study for this research.One of the methods of supporting the case study approach is through the analysis of secondary data from existing statistical sources to determine the gaps between underlying concepts and existing data against those internationally proposed.This study has relied on The Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) introduced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assessing the quality of existing data about TSA and tourism employment in Egypt. The IMF DQAF identifies quality-related features of governance of statistical systems, statistical processes, and statistical products. It addresses a broad range of questions that are captured through the prerequisites of quality and five dimensions of quality: assurances of integrity, methodological soundness, accuracy and reliability, serviceability, and accessibility.As indicated above, one of the major objectives of this study is to identify the current situation of the data on tourism-related employment available in Egypt now and the quality level of the TSA data in Egypt. These additional data required (over and above the secondary sources of data) are gathered through the participant observation method.ResultsThe results begin by assessing the current situation of the data on tourism-related employment available in Egypt now. This is followed by a quality assessment of the TSA project in context of the DQAF criteria.Firstly, the study has drawn a whole picture of tourism-related employment available in Egypt now which can be described as following:1. Broadly, although the great economic role that tourism sector plays in the Egyptian economy, the present available tourism statistics and data do not display the actual contribution of this sector. This is due to the present tourism statistical system which confronts several shortcomings and problems;2. Statistics on tourism-related employment in Egypt is usually fragmented, difficult to compare and often lacks quality, credibility and reliability;3. Considering the inadequate status of tourism employment statistics in Egypt, there is still much to be done to improve the quality of Egypt's tourism employment statistics;4. TSA implementation in Egypt will create a new horizon for improving the quality of tourism employment statistics.Secondly, the following represent the overall findings of the assessment of TSA Data quality in Egypt:1. The TSA unit and the agencies that cooperate with them work within a satisfactory legal and institutional framework that supports the statistical work.2. The TSA unit displays an awareness of quality as the cornerstone of statistical work.3. Staff resources are insufficient for producing statistics. …