Developing the Tourism Workforce of the Future in the APEC Region: APEC Tourism Working Group

Abstract

Tourism in the APEC region is on track for above global growth rates, creating a future of both skill and labour shortages. Skill requirements, including both specialist hard skills and general soft skills are also increasing. Digitisation and the changing nature of the industry is also driving a greater requirement for information and communications technology (ICT) skills, soft skills and entrepreneurship among Small-to- and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).This report has been prepared for the APEC Tourism Working Group (TWG) and builds on the APEC Leaders’ Action Plan for Promoting Quality Employment and the APEC Tourism Ministers’ 2014 commitment to discuss and enhance tourism coordination mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific, including in personnel education and training, and job creation through tourism. Moreover, a key goal of the APEC TWG is to promote sustainable and inclusive tourism development in the APEC region that will enable member economies to increase their competitiveness. The findings from this report are drawn from: a) an extensive literature review; b) a survey of the twenty-one member economies across Government, industry and academia (with 335 responses; 60% from non-English speaking participants); c) a workshop with industry leaders; and d) case studies of member economies.