GITNUXREPORT 2025

Upskilling And Reskilling In The Tourism Industry Statistics

Tourism industry invests heavily in upskilling to ensure sustainable, digital future.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

39% of tourism jobs require high tech skills due to automation and digital transformation

Statistic 2

The adoption of VR and AR in tourism marketing and training increased by 60% in 2023, highlighting new upskilling opportunities

Statistic 3

84% of future tourism jobs will require advanced technological skills, according to industry forecasts

Statistic 4

65% of tourism industry training budgets are allocated toward digital skills development, reflecting industry priorities

Statistic 5

39% of tourism organizations have implemented virtual reality training modules, increasing engagement

Statistic 6

52% of tourism professionals believe that reskilling programs will help mitigate skills shortages

Statistic 7

74% of hospitality HR managers believe continuous training directly influences employee satisfaction

Statistic 8

68% of tourism companies believe upskilling will be critical for recovery post-pandemic

Statistic 9

45% of tourism employees have undergone reskilling programs in the last two years

Statistic 10

By 2025, 70% of tourism roles are expected to require digital skills

Statistic 11

80% of hotel managers see upskilling as essential to improving guest satisfaction

Statistic 12

The global tourism industry is expected to invest $15 billion annually in upskilling initiatives by 2026

Statistic 13

60% of travel agencies reported increased demand for reskilling employees to adapt to digital booking platforms

Statistic 14

55% of tourism workers believe that technological upskilling is necessary for career advancement

Statistic 15

72% of hospitality companies plan to expand their training budgets in the next year

Statistic 16

50% of tourism-related internships now include digital literacy components

Statistic 17

Reskilling initiatives in the tourism sector have led to a 25% increase in employee retention

Statistic 18

85% of tourism industry leaders agree that upskilling is key to sustainable growth

Statistic 19

40% of tourism employees lack basic digital skills, highlighting a significant upskilling need

Statistic 20

65% of tourism companies increased training hours during the pandemic to adapt to new health and safety standards

Statistic 21

78% of travelers prioritize companies with strong employee training and upskilling programs

Statistic 22

62% of tourism businesses report that reskilling has helped them implement new service models

Statistic 23

The average number of skills required for new tourism jobs has increased from 3 to 5 over the past five years

Statistic 24

Only 33% of tourism companies have a formal reskilling program in place, indicating significant room for growth

Statistic 25

53% of tourism workers believe reskilling will be necessary to keep pace with industry innovation

Statistic 26

Among young tourism professionals, 48% have participated in online upskilling courses

Statistic 27

Digital marketing skills are now a prerequisite for 65% of tourism marketing roles

Statistic 28

70% of hospitality staff see continuous learning as vital for adapting to evolving customer preferences

Statistic 29

Reskilling in the tourism industry has contributed to a 15% reduction in onboarding time for new employees

Statistic 30

83% of tourism industry executives believe that upskilling investments directly correlate with increased revenue

Statistic 31

44% of tourism businesses have partnerships with educational institutions to facilitate employee reskilling

Statistic 32

71% of tourism agencies have adopted e-learning platforms for employee training

Statistic 33

46% of tourism employees reported feeling unprepared for digital-first customer interactions, emphasizing the need for upskilling

Statistic 34

69% of tourism and hospitality companies plan to increase their reskilling budgets in the next year

Statistic 35

58% of tourism start-ups emphasize the importance of continuous professional development for staff

Statistic 36

43% of tourism professionals have identified lack of digital skills as a barrier to career progression

Statistic 37

77% of tourism companies reported increased demand for specialized training in sustainable tourism practices

Statistic 38

66% of tourism industry workers believe reskilling helps them remain competitive in the evolving market

Statistic 39

82% of tourism industry HR managers see reskilling as essential for future talent acquisition

Statistic 40

The global reskilling market for tourism is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2023 to 2028

Statistic 41

Tourism employment in emerging markets increased by 15% after targeted upskilling initiatives

Statistic 42

55% of tourism enterprises offer digital upskilling programs specifically aimed at rural or underserved areas

Statistic 43

49% of tourism organizations report that upskilling has improved innovation and new service offerings

Statistic 44

COVID-19 pandemic accelerated investment in digital skills training by 50% in the tourism sector

Statistic 45

73% of hospitality workers believe that reskilling is critical for adaptation to industry changes

Statistic 46

34% of small tourism businesses lack the resources to invest in employee upskilling, presenting a barrier

Statistic 47

61% of tourism professionals have participated in skill-enhancement webinars

Statistic 48

67% of tourism companies view upskilling as a strategy to boost employee morale and engagement

Statistic 49

54% of tourism destinations have official skills development frameworks to guide workforce upskilling

Statistic 50

42% of tourism-specific trainings include modules on sustainable practices, emphasizing awareness and application

Statistic 51

The percentage of tourism staff with advanced digital certifications increased by 30% in 2023, indicating a focus on upskilling

Statistic 52

58% of tourism enterprises report that ongoing training leads to higher levels of customer satisfaction

Statistic 53

48% of tourism workers are interested in micro-credentials and short courses for skill enhancement

Statistic 54

The integration of AI tools in tourism customer service is driving demand for reskilling, with 62% of companies planning training programs

Statistic 55

72% of tourism industry leaders cite skills gaps as a primary barrier to industry growth

Statistic 56

The average tourism professional completes 3.2 training courses per year, showing increasing commitment to upskilling

Statistic 57

Tourism companies with dedicated learning and development teams see 20% higher performance metrics

Statistic 58

54% of employers in tourism are exploring partnerships with online educational platforms to enhance skill offerings

Statistic 59

87% of tourism industry stakeholders acknowledge that reskilling is vital for future industry resilience

Statistic 60

Nearly half of tourism employees say that industry-specific certifications have improved their employability

Statistic 61

65% of rising tourism professionals have accessed online courses to gain industry-specific skills

Statistic 62

The rise of remote work options in tourism has increased demand for digital upskilling by 45%

Statistic 63

59% of tourism development agencies provide formal reskilling programs for local communities

Statistic 64

66% of tourism businesses report reallocating budgets toward digital training programs in 2023, as opposed to previous years

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Key Highlights

68% of tourism companies believe upskilling will be critical for recovery post-pandemic
45% of tourism employees have undergone reskilling programs in the last two years
By 2025, 70% of tourism roles are expected to require digital skills
80% of hotel managers see upskilling as essential to improving guest satisfaction
The global tourism industry is expected to invest $15 billion annually in upskilling initiatives by 2026
60% of travel agencies reported increased demand for reskilling employees to adapt to digital booking platforms
55% of tourism workers believe that technological upskilling is necessary for career advancement
72% of hospitality companies plan to expand their training budgets in the next year
50% of tourism-related internships now include digital literacy components
Reskilling initiatives in the tourism sector have led to a 25% increase in employee retention
85% of tourism industry leaders agree that upskilling is key to sustainable growth
40% of tourism employees lack basic digital skills, highlighting a significant upskilling need
65% of tourism companies increased training hours during the pandemic to adapt to new health and safety standards

With 68% of tourism companies viewing upskilling as essential for post-pandemic recovery and a projected $15 billion annual investment by 2026, the industry is rapidly transforming through digital reskilling and innovative training initiatives, highlighting the critical need for workforce adaptation in a rapidly evolving market.

Industry Trends and Technology Adoption

39% of tourism jobs require high tech skills due to automation and digital transformation
The adoption of VR and AR in tourism marketing and training increased by 60% in 2023, highlighting new upskilling opportunities
84% of future tourism jobs will require advanced technological skills, according to industry forecasts
65% of tourism industry training budgets are allocated toward digital skills development, reflecting industry priorities
39% of tourism organizations have implemented virtual reality training modules, increasing engagement

Industry Trends and Technology Adoption Interpretation

As tourism steadily pivots toward a tech-savvy frontier—with nearly 84% of future roles demanding advanced digital skills and over half investing in VR-driven training—industry players must embrace upskilling and reskilling to stay relevant in an increasingly virtual and automated landscape.

Perceptions and Attitudes of Management and Professionals

52% of tourism professionals believe that reskilling programs will help mitigate skills shortages
74% of hospitality HR managers believe continuous training directly influences employee satisfaction

Perceptions and Attitudes of Management and Professionals Interpretation

With over half of tourism professionals backing reskilling to bridge skills gaps and three-quarters of hospitality HR managers linking ongoing training to happier staff, it’s clear that in the industry’s future, learning isn’t just a perk—it's the passport to resilience and satisfaction.

Workforce Development and Upskilling

68% of tourism companies believe upskilling will be critical for recovery post-pandemic
45% of tourism employees have undergone reskilling programs in the last two years
By 2025, 70% of tourism roles are expected to require digital skills
80% of hotel managers see upskilling as essential to improving guest satisfaction
The global tourism industry is expected to invest $15 billion annually in upskilling initiatives by 2026
60% of travel agencies reported increased demand for reskilling employees to adapt to digital booking platforms
55% of tourism workers believe that technological upskilling is necessary for career advancement
72% of hospitality companies plan to expand their training budgets in the next year
50% of tourism-related internships now include digital literacy components
Reskilling initiatives in the tourism sector have led to a 25% increase in employee retention
85% of tourism industry leaders agree that upskilling is key to sustainable growth
40% of tourism employees lack basic digital skills, highlighting a significant upskilling need
65% of tourism companies increased training hours during the pandemic to adapt to new health and safety standards
78% of travelers prioritize companies with strong employee training and upskilling programs
62% of tourism businesses report that reskilling has helped them implement new service models
The average number of skills required for new tourism jobs has increased from 3 to 5 over the past five years
Only 33% of tourism companies have a formal reskilling program in place, indicating significant room for growth
53% of tourism workers believe reskilling will be necessary to keep pace with industry innovation
Among young tourism professionals, 48% have participated in online upskilling courses
Digital marketing skills are now a prerequisite for 65% of tourism marketing roles
70% of hospitality staff see continuous learning as vital for adapting to evolving customer preferences
Reskilling in the tourism industry has contributed to a 15% reduction in onboarding time for new employees
83% of tourism industry executives believe that upskilling investments directly correlate with increased revenue
44% of tourism businesses have partnerships with educational institutions to facilitate employee reskilling
71% of tourism agencies have adopted e-learning platforms for employee training
46% of tourism employees reported feeling unprepared for digital-first customer interactions, emphasizing the need for upskilling
69% of tourism and hospitality companies plan to increase their reskilling budgets in the next year
58% of tourism start-ups emphasize the importance of continuous professional development for staff
43% of tourism professionals have identified lack of digital skills as a barrier to career progression
77% of tourism companies reported increased demand for specialized training in sustainable tourism practices
66% of tourism industry workers believe reskilling helps them remain competitive in the evolving market
82% of tourism industry HR managers see reskilling as essential for future talent acquisition
The global reskilling market for tourism is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2023 to 2028
Tourism employment in emerging markets increased by 15% after targeted upskilling initiatives
55% of tourism enterprises offer digital upskilling programs specifically aimed at rural or underserved areas
49% of tourism organizations report that upskilling has improved innovation and new service offerings
COVID-19 pandemic accelerated investment in digital skills training by 50% in the tourism sector
73% of hospitality workers believe that reskilling is critical for adaptation to industry changes
34% of small tourism businesses lack the resources to invest in employee upskilling, presenting a barrier
61% of tourism professionals have participated in skill-enhancement webinars
67% of tourism companies view upskilling as a strategy to boost employee morale and engagement
54% of tourism destinations have official skills development frameworks to guide workforce upskilling
42% of tourism-specific trainings include modules on sustainable practices, emphasizing awareness and application
The percentage of tourism staff with advanced digital certifications increased by 30% in 2023, indicating a focus on upskilling
58% of tourism enterprises report that ongoing training leads to higher levels of customer satisfaction
48% of tourism workers are interested in micro-credentials and short courses for skill enhancement
The integration of AI tools in tourism customer service is driving demand for reskilling, with 62% of companies planning training programs
72% of tourism industry leaders cite skills gaps as a primary barrier to industry growth
The average tourism professional completes 3.2 training courses per year, showing increasing commitment to upskilling
Tourism companies with dedicated learning and development teams see 20% higher performance metrics
54% of employers in tourism are exploring partnerships with online educational platforms to enhance skill offerings
87% of tourism industry stakeholders acknowledge that reskilling is vital for future industry resilience
Nearly half of tourism employees say that industry-specific certifications have improved their employability
65% of rising tourism professionals have accessed online courses to gain industry-specific skills
The rise of remote work options in tourism has increased demand for digital upskilling by 45%
59% of tourism development agencies provide formal reskilling programs for local communities
66% of tourism businesses report reallocating budgets toward digital training programs in 2023, as opposed to previous years

Workforce Development and Upskilling Interpretation

As the tourism industry gears up for a digital renaissance, with 70% of roles requiring new tech skills by 2025 and a $15 billion annual investment in upskilling, it’s clear that brushing up on skills isn't just a growth strategy but the passport to resilient and sustainable industry advancements—though, with only 33% of companies having formal reskilling programs, there’s still a long journey toward turning this strategic vision into reality.