The Reemergence of the Travel and Tourism Sector – Why Youth Matter

According to the ILO, globally approximately 68 million youth are unemployed and it is estimated an additional 41 million youth will enter the workforce by 2030.  The travel and tourism industry, representing 1 in 10 jobs globally, employing 330 million people according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), is a sector ripe for engagement and economic opportunity for youth. However, according to multiple studies, youth perceive the industry mostly as an entry point or short-term employment engagement as opposed to one that has opportunities for long-term professional development and careers. Education, sensitization, and awareness building regarding the opportunities for long-term growth and employment in the sector will support poverty alleviation and livelihoods development for youth around the globe.

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In this session, FHI 360 and its co-sponsor the Adventure Travel and Trade Association (ATTA) led an exploration of youth economic opportunity in the sector from the perspective of professional development, growth, and key segments. Hear from industry experts in travel and tourism, international development, and resilient youth currently engaged in the travel and tourism industry. 

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The session also addressed the current state of global economic recovery. While it is undeniable that the travel and tourism sector suffered significant retrenchment since the emergence of coronavirus and the global pandemic, it is also uniquely positioned to rapidly bounce back and as a major driver of youth employment and economic recovery. Research from UNWTO highlights that the sector was one of the fastest to recover from the 2008 global recession where employment across all economic sectors grew by 11% between 2010 and 2018, however, employment in accommodation and restaurants grew by 35%. The strong growth has continued to the period just prior to the pandemic with travel and tourism outperforming the 2.5% rate of global GDP growth for the ninth consecutive year in a row, with an annual GDP growth rate of 3.5%.  The consensus is that similar to the post-2008 crisis, tourism will bounce back and be a critical element of economic recovery, including employment generation, across the globe.