Human Capital Development

With an estimated 235 million jobs directly related to tourism, the sector is one of the world’s top employers. It is particularly important as a source of opportunity for women and youth, creates employment in both urban and rural areas, and can accommodate both skilled and non-skilled workers.

Successful tourist destinations rely on the availability of highly skilled and well-trained workers. For both the public and private sectors, human capital is a key asset to develop, manage, and serve the tourism sector in a sustainable and competitive manner and in accordance with international standards.

UN Tourism’s IDC Department provides technical assistance to Member States to conduct a Human Resources Needs Assessment and formulate a Human Resources Development Strategy. National Tourism Administrations, in collaboration with other stakeholders in a country or destination, can use the findings and recommendations to bridge the gaps between supply and demand of professionals, address skill gaps and develop appropriate training and education programmes for the local workforce.

To help strengthen tourism education and training, IDC also collaborates with Member States on advisory missions to review and improve curricula of training institutes as well as on projects to develop and deliver vocational training programmes that focus on specific target groups, such as youth and women.

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