ACCORDING to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the travel and tourism industry is one of the largest and most dynamic industries in today’s global economy. It was expected to generate about 9 per cent of total GDP and provide more than 235 million jobs in 2010, representing 8 per cent of global employment.

Compared to other sectors of the global economy, the industry is one of the fastest growing, accounting for more than one-third of the total global services trade. The ILO forum addressed the high intensity of labour within the industry, making it a significant source of employment and placing it among the world‘s top creators of jobs that require varying degrees of skill and allow for quick entry into the workforce by youth, women and migrant workers.
According to an ILO report prepared for the forum, international tourism was affected by the global economic and social crises but is projected to grow significantly over the coming decade. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is expecting the sector‘s global economy to provide 296 million jobs by 2019.
Because of the global financial crisis, the tourism sector suffered a decline beginning in the second half of 2008 and intensifying in 2009 after several consecutive years of growth. A sharp reduction in tourist flows, length of stay and spending, as well as increased restrictions on business travel expenses, led to a significant contraction of economic activity in the sector worldwide.
Among the most affected during the crisis were international tourist arrivals, decreasing by 4 per cent in 2009, while international tourism revenues were projected to go down 6 per cent by the end of 2009. The regions hit hardest by the decline in worldwide international tourism were the Middle East (–4.9 per cent), Europe (–5.7 per cent), and the Americas (–4.6 per cent). Only Africa showed constant growth (+2.9 per cent), based on a comparatively low travel volume.
Despite the crisis, global employment in the tourism industry increased by about 1 per cent between 2008 and 2009, the report says. But there were significant regional differences with respect to the impact of the crisis on employment in hotels and restaurants. While the Americas suffered a 1.7 per cent decrease in employment, employment in Asia and the Pacific region remained resilient, gaining 4.6 per cent.
The forum especially looked at education and vocational training as key requisites for the operational effectiveness of the sector. Its workers tend to have limited professional qualifications, and a need for enhanced training and education, including health-related issues, has become visible.
According to Wolfgang Weinz, “The growing significance of technology and more demanding customers, as well as environmental issues, require a more effective customer/employee relationship. Competitiveness and productivity in the industry depend on skill levels, professionalism, commitment, passion, loyalty and soft skills of the workers.”
Participants agreed that motivated workers are the most talented employees – willing to stay with their company. Some of the soft skills needed, including language and communication skills, courtesy, discipline, conscientiousness, self-confidence, adaptability, creativity and punctuality, can be enhanced through training. Gaps were also noted in the management capabilities – of management within the industry.
“Today we have a shortage of qualified employees. Hotels need to train their employees. It is the only way to improve the quality,” explained Ghassan Aidi, President of the International Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA).
Our country has a virtual limitless tourism capacity and when its full potential is unleashed, it will be a major contributor to our economy and perhaps at some time in the future it could become our number one industry.
At the moment prospects look good, even though our tourism sector is in its infancy as we are witnessing an increasing number of resorts and hotels across the country and visitors’ arrival is steadily increasing. Last year we saw an increase of 11.7% making us one of three Caribbean countries which have recorded a double-digit increase.
But as the ILO report noted skilled personnel, which is a key prerequisite to a successful tourism sector, are in short supply and therefore we should intensify our work in this area to meet the demand of our tourism sector.
In this regard, we should seriously consider the idea of establishing a tourism training institute which covers all aspects of training that are necessary for the tourism sector.
We should also intensify the marketing of our tourism product as they are still a large number of people around the globe who are unaware of the unique tourism product we have to offer. In addition, the tourism market has been enlarged and the competition intensified. Therefore, those who better market the product are likely to be the more successful ones, and in our case this is even more crucial because we are a relatively new player on the tourism circuit.