Hotels, catering and tourism sector
The hotels, catering and tourism sector is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy. It is also among the top-job creating sectors because of its labour intensive nature and its significant multiplier effect on employment in other related sectors. Yet, the sector has a reputation of poor working conditions due to a number of factors: it is a fragmented industry with the majority of employers being small and medium sized enterprises with low union density, and work characterized by low wages and low levels of skill requirements, shifts and night work, as well as seasonality.

Work according to ILO’s Decent Work Agenda

In the HCT sector, the ILO tackles these problems through sectoral activities related to the ILO’s four pillars, which together constitute the ILO’s Decent Work agenda, which are Labour Standards, Employment, Social dialogue and Social protection.

Partners

Close cooperation with other UN Agencies, especially the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and the main constituents in the sector, IHRA and IUF, is crucial for successful work. Read more in

What's new

  1. Article

    Sunshine, sea… and skills in tourism: ILO supports women in northeastern Indonesia in sustainable tourism development

    12 January 2023

  2. Our impact, their voices

    Occupational safety and health enhance the business resilience of Indonesian SMEs

    10 October 2022

  3. © I. Velasquez / ILO 2023

    Voices

    An indigenous entrepreneur in tune with Mother Earth

    17 August 2022

Highlights

  1. Regional meeting


    Tripartite regional meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean on The future of work and sustainable COVID-19 recovery in tourism (30 June - 2 July 2021) [Spanish]

    • On 7 October 2020, G20 Tourism Ministers have adopted the Diriyah Communique under the G20 Saudi Presidency and committed to stepping up their efforts to place decent work, sustainability and inclusion at the heart of tourism recovery and future growth
    • The G20 Tourism Working Group has developed the AlUla Framework for Inclusive Community Development through Tourism with the UNWTO to further advance the contribution of the tourism sector as an effective means towards fairer growth and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

  2. Briefing note

    COVID-19 and the tourism sector

  3. Book

    Platformization of the tourism sector in Sri Lanka

  4. Tourism and COVID-19

    "Social dialogue will be critical for creating the effective policies and trust needed for a safe return to work."

  5. The Extraordinary G20 Tourism Ministers' Meeting on COVID-19, held virtually on 24 April 2020, adopted the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Statement on COVID-19

  6. 9th meeting of Ministers of Tourism of G20

    Advancing Tourism's Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Declaration and Annexes

  7. Sectoral meeting

    Meeting of Experts to adopt Guidelines on Decent Work and Socially Responsible Tourism

Standards and tools

Guidelines
Tourism labour standards
  1. C172 Working Conditions (Hotels and Restaurants) Convention, 1991
  2. R179 Working Conditions (Hotels and Restaurants) Recommendation, 1991
Fact sheets
  1. Employment in the tourism sector
  2. Poverty reduction through tourism
  3. Tourism at a glance
Policy Guidance Notes
  1. Economic Diversification of the Rural Economy
  2. Sustainable Tourism – A Catalyst for Inclusive Socio-economic Development and Poverty Reduction in Rural Areas

Key resources

  1. Publication

    Sectoral Studies on Decent Work in Global Supply Chains

    In Study no. 2, this publication tackles opportunities and challenges in the promotion of Decent Work in Hotel Global Supply Chains.

  2. Toolkit

    Poverty Reduction through Tourism

  1. HIV and AIDS: Guide for the tourism sector

  2. Sectoral meeting

    Global Dialogue Forum on New Developments and Challenges in the Hospitality and Tourism Sector and their impact on Employment, Human Resources Development and Industrial Relations

  3. Small Business Competitiveness -  Tourism

    Practical tools for entrepeneurs and business owners to plan and improve their businesses

    Videos

    1. ILO ASEAN Small Business Competitiveness Programme
    2. Improving Small Business Competitiveness in Tourism Industry
    3. Small Business Competitiveness (SBC) in Vang Vieng's Tourism Sector

  4. Website

    Asia Pacific Network on Green Jobs

  5. OECD Tourism Papers

    Supporting Quality Jobs in Tourism

  6. Publication

    Destination Mutual Benefit: A guide to inclusive business in Tourism

Publications

  1. SCORE Training catalogue

    17 June 2022

  2. SCORE Programme Brief

    21 December 2021

  3. COVID-19 and employment in the tourism sector in the Asia–Pacific region

    18 November 2021

Reports 

  1. Measuring Employment in the Tourism Industries - Guide with Best Practices

  1. Sustainable Tourism for Development

  2. Economic Crisis, International Tourism Decline and its Impact on the Poor

  3. International perspectives on women and work in hotels, catering and tourism

  4. Migrant workers in the international hotel industry

  5. Review of socially responsible HR and labour relations practice in international hotel chains

  6. Developments and challenges in the hospitality and tourism sector

  7. Working paper

    Guide for Social Dialogue in the Tourism Industry