The most in-demand profiles in tourism for the next five years? Those with digital skills, followed by "customer focus, data analytics, operations, commercial, leadership/management, and administration and finance."
This is confirmed by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in its policy paper The Future of Work and Skills Development in Tourism, which compiles guidelines for the future of Tourism by outlining priority skills and investments.
The research considered the views of four key groups: workers and students, public sector, private sector, and educational institutions.
For all, profiles with skills on digital/IT have the highest level of demand in the next five years. In addition, the big data and data analytics, along with environmental technologies, emerge as the most valued areas in terms of future skills development.
For professionals, it will be crucial to move away from the old paradigm of "finish studying to start working." There is a need to continuously develop one's skills through lifelong learning, from basic to more complex skills.
While soft skills are less likely to be automated (social or empathic skills such as creativity and innovation) it is also clear that digital and technological skills will make a difference.
Tourism is the engine of economic and employment growth,in factit directly accounts for 6 percent of employment in G20 economies, yet it is often underestimated in policy formulation and implementation.
Travel "Onlife"
"While soft skills are less likely to be automated," explains Roberta Milano (social or empathic skills such as creativity and innovation), it is also clear that digital and technological skills will make a difference. For these reasons BTO (Buy Tourism Online , inFebruary 12-13 Florence), is an event not to be missed, in perfect positioning with the guidelines set forth by UNWTO. Even more so this year with the theme Onlife."
The Onlife Manifesto byLuciano Floridi, professor of philosophy and information ethics at Oxford University, has been chosen as a guide in this journey. A paper that addresses profound change by investigating the new human condition in the digital age. To talk about digitization without forgetting the theme of "Human".
"An important challenge that affects us as operators, as tourists and as people."