The Value of Skills for a Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Susana Silva (),
Cândida Silva and
Mónica Oliveira
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Susana Silva: CEOS.PP, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4465-004 São Mamede de Infesta, Portugal
Cândida Silva: CITUR, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4480-876 Vila do Conde, Portugal
Mónica Oliveira: CITUR, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, 4480-876 Vila do Conde, Portugal
Tourism and Hospitality, 2025, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-18
Abstract:
Skills are one of the main themes in academic and labor environments. Nowadays, digital, green, and social and cultural skills are the key to achieving sustainable practices and sustainable development goals. Therefore, this study aims to characterize the current and future needs of digital, green, and social and cultural skills for the tourism and hospitality sectors. This was a quantitative study, with an online survey applied to students, teachers, and professionals. It was a convenience sample with 150 participants. Data were analyzed statistically with IBM SPSS version 28.0. Our results suggested that students, professionals, and trainers value digital, green, and social and cultural skills. With reference to digital skills, all participants considered themselves having an intermediate or advanced level of proficiency. All the participants considered themselves having an intermediate or advanced level of green skills. Regarding social and cultural skills, all the participants considered themselves having an advanced level of proficiency. Therefore, professionals reported higher levels of proficiency in all skills. In the same way, in the tourism sector, we observed higher proficiency levels of skills. To summarize, educational, sectorial, and entrepreneurial sectors recognize the relevance of digital, green, and social-cultural skills for the tourism and hospitality industry. With these skills, the sector will be more prepared to implement sustainability practices and achieve sustainability goals. Additionally, entrepreneurs should value these skills in professionals, and education institutions should integrate the development of these skills into their curricula.
Keywords: digital skills; green skills; social and cultural skills; hospitality; restaurant; tourism; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Z3 Z30 Z31 Z32 Z33 Z38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jtourh:v:6:y:2025:i:1:p:14-:d:1573968
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