Learning and Development for Sustainable Tourism Transformation

Investment in Skills to Support Sustainable Tourism Transformation

This year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, emphasises the need for effective governance and people-centric planning, and calls for “investment in education and skills, especially for youth, women, and communities at risk of exclusion” as a key part of the solution.

In the World Tourism Day 2025 Concept Note, a lack of adequate training is highlighted as a challenge facing the sector, especially in emerging destinations, as it prevents prospective and future workers from effectively participating in careers in travel and tourism. This is an important challenge, considering that tourism demand is expected to continue to grow.

So how can destinations and governments bridge this gap? A key priority, as recommended by UN Tourism, is "accessible, high-quality educational programmes and vocational training" to help empower people to develop relevant skills to meaningfully contribute to the sustainable transformation of the tourism sector and its progress.

People-Centric Training is the Future of Learning and Development

To support our industry's ongoing and growing needs for quality education and vocational training, we need progressive efforts in learning and development that reflect the evolving and ever-changing nature of the global tourism and local destination contexts. And that includes helping tourism businesses remain competitive and future-ready by investing in strong company cultures (which are a key factor in engaging and motivating today's purpose-driven workforce).

As noted here, "developing a robust company culture centered around sustainability, corporate responsibility and shared values is crucial for tourism businesses aiming to thrive in today's dynamic and competitive labour market. A strong identity that concretely embeds sustainability into the company’s core values will help enable employees to more actively engage in the company mission, feel empowered to lead with purpose in their own work, and - importantly - be happy at work".

Studies show that learning and development is a essential part of what workers expect in a healthy, fulfilling workplace. For example, 41% of those surveyed for the 2025 Workmonitor study said they consider "development opportunities to future-proof their careers" to be a non-negotiable, lack of which can constitute a reason for quitting.

So employers today need, more than ever, to be proactive in addressing this gap, focusing on this critical area of worker satisfaction, through programmes such as continuous learning, coaching, mentorship opportunities, and workplace learning that goes beyond the conventional on-boarding explainers and empowers workers with relevant skills and up-to-date knowledge.

Ideas, Insights and Inspirations: Quality Learning and Development in Tourism

Here are examples of organisations, programmes and initiatives from around the world focused on people-centric training and skills building opportunities for young professionals and emerging entrepreneurs who are future tourism leaders. 

Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO)

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) has brought together youth delegates from across the region for the Pacific Youth Forum on Sustainable Tourism, with the aim of empowering youth to shape the future of tourism through dialogue, innovation, and policy influence. Building on the 2023 statement on "Steering Sustainable Tourism: Promoting Pacific Youth Voices in Co-creating Resilient Destinations" and organized alongside the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit, the Youth Forum featured interactive sessions, youth-led discussions, and opportunities to contribute directly to regional tourism strategies.

STTA Young Change Makers (Africa)

Sustainable Travel & Tourism Africa (STTA) offers the Young Change Makers (STTA-YCM) Programme, with the aim of mentoring emerging African sustainable tourism leaders. Focused on cultivate young critical thinkers, STTA-YCM helps equip Young Change Makers with sustainability knowledge and skills to address various challenges facing travel and tourism sectors in Africa. STTA-YCM offers include inter-university extension learning seminars in partnership with TVET institutions and industry practitioners; field based experiential bootcamps for students in collaboration with tourism enterprises; and sustainability assessment exercises following the STTA's Utalii Bora (“Good Tourism”) framework. 

Young Tourism Network (Victoria, Australia)

The Young Tourism Network (YTN) forges vital connections between students, industry professionals and Government. For example, YTN's Trusted Advisor Program connects emerging tourism, events and hospitality professionals (Advisees) with established industry professionals (Advisors) in a 10 week coaching program, matching advisees and advisors based on key areas of career interests and relevant industry experiences. In addition, with a people-centered approach led by the diverse stories of industry professionals, the YTN Tourism Ambassador Program showcase and promote career opportunities in the tourism industry, through in person panel discussions, workshops or keynote speaking events featuring a broad spectrum of profiles - from a small business owner to a resort manager, from a marketing specialist to a destination manager, and many more. 

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (European Union)

An extension of Erasmus, the European Union’s long-established higher-education exchange programme, Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs helps nurture skills and cultural understanding through international exchanges for young people entering the business world. With the aim of promoting "exchange of knowledge and experience, better networking possibilities across Europe and new commercial relations for European businesses", this cross-border scheme facilitates the experience of entrepreneurial and management experience for young people, who are matched with well-experienced SME entrepreneurs in another country. Some of the success stories in the tourism sector include emerging entrepreneurs matched with and learning from companies such as Salento Bici Tour in Italy, Suryalila Retreat Centre in Spain, and Risklayer in Germany. 

WeNaTour EU Specialisation Programme (Italy and Austria)

The EU Specialization Programme in Sustainable Tourism by WeNaTour is designed for students and young professionals seeking to gain relevant experience in sustainable tourism and destination management. The programme aims to train participants to become actively engaged in sustainable destination development and management, equipping them with the skills to support various tourism and destination stakeholders in implementing sustainability strategies. Following an extensive online training course, a select group of participants has been selected for a two-week intensive training programme in Italy and Austria, including hands-on learning, field visits, and real-world case studies, hosted by two certified sustainable tourism destinations: Valsugana Lagorai in Italy and Nassfeld Lesachtal Weissensee in Austria.

Grow Tourism (New Zealand)

With the goals of helping build and sustain high value tourism businesses while advancing digital transformation and tourism, Grow Tourism provides a learning platform for New Zealand's tourism workforce with the skills, insights and knowledge to build New Zealand's high value tourism future. Grow Tourism helps build a future-focused tourism and hospitality workforce through industry partnerships and diverse learning pathways, including leadership and networking skills for women in tourism, and tourism business skills embedding sustainability strategies.