WTTC forecasts 91 million new travel and tourism jobs by 2035, highlights worker gap

 

A new report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) predicts the sector will support 91 million new jobs worldwide by 2035, accounting for one in three net new roles globally. 

However, demographic and structural shifts could create a shortfall of more than 43 million workers if action is not taken.

The report, The Future of Work in Travel & Tourism: The key trends shaping workforce strategies, was launched at WTTC’s 25th Global Summit in Rome and focuses on 20 economies. It was developed with support from the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Coraggio Group, Miles Partnership, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, based on global research including surveys of business leaders and interviews with WTTC members and other stakeholders. 

The sector supported a record 357 million jobs in 2024 and is forecast to reach 371 million this year. Over the next decade, it is projected to generate 91 million new roles, but by 2035 demand for workers is expected to outpace supply by 43 million, leaving labour availability 16 per cent below required levels. 

Hospitality is expected to face a shortfall of 8.6 million workers, around 18 per cent below needed staffing levels. Low-skilled roles will remain in high demand, particularly positions that rely on human interaction and cannot easily be automated. 

The labour challenge is expected across all 20 economies studied, with the largest shortfalls projected in China (16.9 million), India (11 million), and the EU (6.4 million). In relative terms, Japan’s travel and tourism workforce is projected to fall 29 per cent below demand by 2035, followed by Greece (27 per cent) and Germany (26 per cent). 

The report outlines strategies to address the workforce gap, including promoting career opportunities to young people, aligning training with industry needs, improving retention through leadership development and inclusive workplaces, investing in digital literacy and sustainable practices, and implementing flexible policies to manage workforce demand. 

Gloria Guevara, WTTC interim CEO, said: “Travel and tourism is set to remain one of the world’s biggest job creators, offering opportunities for millions of people worldwide – but we must also recognise that wider demographic and structural changes are reshaping labour markets everywhere. 

“Many workers left the sector during Covid when travel and tourism came to a standstill. Now, as global unemployment is expected to fall and working age populations to shrink, this is creating an increased pressure on labour supply, especially for fast growing sectors like travel and tourism.” 

She described the report as a call to action, saying that collaboration with governments and educators will help the sector address workforce challenges and continue to offer opportunities for future generations, with WTTC supporting policy implementation worldwide to close the gap.

-TTG Asia.

Pelancongan dijangka sumbang RM198.7 bilion kepada ekonomi tahun ini

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Sektor pelancongan dijangka menyumbang sebanyak RM198.7 bilion atau 10.5 peratus kepada ekonomi negara pada 2024.

Laporan Economic Impact Research (EIR) 2024 oleh World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) menjangkakan sektor pelancongan Malaysia dapat mencapai pertumbuhan yang luar biasa pada tahun ini disokong oleh pengukuhan ekonomi, pekerjaan dan perbelanjaan domestik.

Menurut laporan itu, angka terbabit juga melepasi paras prapandemik pada 2019 sebanyak 1.6 peratus.

Katanya, pekerjaan dalam sektor perjalanan dan pelancongan dijangka meningkat dengan ketara kepada lebih daripada 2.4 juta, naik 5.2 peratus berbanding tahun lalu dan 5.3 peratus melebihi kemuncak 2019.

"Perbelanjaan pelancong juga diramalkan mengalami pertumbuhan yang besar dengan perbelanjaan pelancong domestik dijangka mencecah RM106.5 bilion.

"Perbelanjaan pelancong antarabangsa pula dijangka mencecah RM93.7 bilion, meningkat 27.8 peratus daripada 2023.

"Jangkaan pertumbuhan dalam sektor itu akan dilengkapkan dengan pelan hala tuju strategik 'Tahun Melawat Malaysia 2026' diumumkan kerajaan baru-baru ini, yang bertujuan untuk menarik lebih ramai pelancong antarabangsa," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif WTTC, Julia Simpson, berkata pertumbuhan dalam sektor perjalanan dan pelancongan Malaysia menyerlahkan komitmen kerajaan untuk menjadikan pelancongan sebagai asas pembangunan ekonomi.

"Fokus ini bukan sahaja memacu kemajuan ekonomi tetapi juga meningkatkan kedudukan Malaysia sebagai destinasi pelancongan utama.

"Melangkah ke hadapan, menjelang 2034 kami meramalkan sektor perjalanan dan pelancongan Malaysia akan meningkatkan sumbangannya kepada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) kepada RM336.6 bilion, membentuk 12.1 peratus daripada ekonomi negara.

"Pekerjaan dalam sektor itu dijangka melebihi 3.5 juta pekerja, menunjukkan peranan pentingnya dalam tenaga kerja negara dan menggaji satu daripada enam warganegara," katanya.

Pada 2023, sektor perjalanan dan pelancongan negara menyaksikan pemulihan yang ketara, berkembang sebanyak 97.8 peratus mencecah RM157 bilion, menyumbang 8.6 peratus daripada ekonomi negara.

Sektor itu juga menyumbang kepada penciptaan pekerjaan dengan jumlah guna tenaga mencecah hampir 2.3 juta, mencerminkan peningkatan tahun ke tahun sebanyak 10.8 peratus.

Perbelanjaan pelancong antarabangsa dan domestik mengalami peningkatan memberangsangkan dengan perbelanjaan pelancong antarabangsa mencecah RM73.3 bilion dan perbelanjaan pelancong domestik meningkat kepada RM87.6 bilion.

-berita harian online.

WTTC tracks travel demand

 

WTTC has launched an in-depth data dashboard highlighting the recovery of travel demand across flights and hotels, as well as revealing the shifting intentions of travellers through online travel searches, so as to help the travel and tourism sector map out its road to recovery.

Developed in partnership with consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the interactive Covid-19 Travel Demand Recovery Dashboard provides users with easy access to qualitative and quantitative travel data at the global and regional level as well as for 33 major countries around the world.

The tool tracks travel demand since the beginning of the year, and will be updated on a fortnightly basis. It offers a useful way to navigate through a sea of data reflecting changing travel demand around the world, as countries start to gradually ease travel restrictions and reopen borders.

Free to all WTTC members and non-members, the dashboard presents two distinct views based on Google trends and searches, and bookings via WTTC’s research partners in the project.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO, said: “Our dashboard will enable decision makers to track the impact of public policies by monitoring the positive and negative fluctuations of flight and hotel bookings and also online travel searches, as well as consumer confidence.

“Data is essential for businesses, government and other organisations to make informed choices and drive the policy which will revive a sector that has suffered disproportionally due to the pandemic.

The new data dashboard offers insights through two main avenues.

The first is via Google Trends, where all the data sourced has been organised into holiday or trip segments: Adventure, Culture, Urban, Family, Sun & Beach, and Travel Services.

Each segmentation has been devised using a set of 20 keywords, covering popular activities, sites and destinations. The segments provide insights at both the regional level and for key travel and tourism countries, such as the UK, the US, France and Brazil.

The second comes via regional insights through bi-monthly updates on movements and bookings, with flight information from travel analytics company ForwardKeys, as well as hotel occupancy and average daily room rates from research firm STR and the Google Mobility Index, which shows local recreational activity.

In addition, Global Rescue, which offers medical, security, travel risk, and crisis management services, provides data showing the ‘openness’ of each country or key market, in the context of Covid-induced travel restrictions.

As an example, the dashboard shows that while travel search interest is still lower than last year, Europe is leading the recovery with searches now just 20 per cent down from last year. Adventure is the fastest recovering search segment globally, at just 10 per cent down from last year, versus 40 per cent for other segments such as urban, sun and beach, family, and culture.

In a number of countries such as France and Germany, adventure travel searches are 50-70 per cent above 2019 levels.

-TTG Asia.

WTTC unveils protocols for attractions, car hire and short-term rentals

WTTC has released a set of health and hygiene protocols which provide consistency to destinations and countries as well as guidance to travel providers operating

in the post-Covid-19 world

WTTC has launched its third phase of safety protocols to aid the reopening of global attractions, car hire companies and short-term rentals, in a bid to rebuild consumer confidence, reduce risk and encourage safe travels.

WTTC said it held detailed discussions with key stakeholders and organisations to ensure maximum buy-in, alignment and practical implementation. The measures help to set clear expectations of what travellers can experience in the ‘new normal’ which offer safe environments as travel restrictions are eased.

Backed by UNWTO, the WTTC protocols also take into account WHO guidelines, and the WTTC Safe Travels stamp recognises destinations, countries, businesses and governments worldwide which have adopted them.

WTTC divided the new guidance into four pillars: operational and staff preparedness, delivering a safe experience, rebuilding trust and confidence, and implementing enabling policies.

Measures include:

Attractions
• Encourage guests to buy advanced tickets online if possible, and considered timed entries and smaller groups
• Identify realistic capacities for attractions based on queue length, waiting areas, pre-shows and vehicle capacity; and adjust accordingly to allow for physical distancing
• Use of virtual queue systems, contactless touchpoints and payment where possible
• Personal protection equipment (PPE) available for all customer-facing staff
• Enhanced cleaning at high-frequency touchpoints
• Sanitise strollers, electric buggies and wheelchairs between every use if applicable
• Make available hand sanitisers in high-traffic areas such as entry, key walkways, F&B locations, merchandise shops and exits
• Consider increasing the number of performances and an end-of-show announcement to encourage guests to take their time exiting
• For water parks, evaluate closing or removing hands-on interactive features within play structures if they aren’t covered in treated pool water
• Encourage guests to reduce the number of personal items they bring into the venue

Car Rental
• Pre-arrival health declaration via email, if required and in accordance with GDPR
• Enhance cleaning to all offices, including check-in, counters, desktops, washrooms and any high-frequency touchpoints
• Encourage use of curb side pick-up and drop-off. Consider moving to a fully digital process including payments and limit physical interaction with staff
• Health/temperature checks, if recommended by legislation, and sanitation stations for customers through hand sanitisers in high-traffic areas
• Limit the number of people allowed per vehicle collection, as well as decreasing the number of people allowed in the car rental establishment at any one time
• All cars to be cleaned with a focus on high-frequency touchpoints

Short-Term Rentals
• Use of contactless technology to enable automation at check-in and payment where possible
• Minimise physical interaction when providing guests with keys, ideally in a contactless manner by offering self check-in and check-out, where possible
• Enhance sanitation, disinfection and deep cleaning practices as well as increasing their cleaning/disinfection frequency with a focus on high-frequency touchpoints
• Provide guests with physical distancing etiquette, including in elevators if relevant, through signage
• Make available hand sanitiser to guests at entrance of short-term rental

-TTG Asia.