As tourism changes in Africa, so do the jobs and skills behind it

MONASTIR, Tunisia (ILO News) – Tourism across the Mediterranean is changing. Climate pressures, new technologies and changing expectations are pushing the sector towards new models. This transition is also transforming the jobs, skills and working conditions of the people who make tourism possible.

That was one of the messages shared by the International Labour Organization (ILO) with 15 journalists from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia gathered in Monastir from 21 to 25 September 2026 for a five-day workshop on sustainable tourism organized by Africa 21.

The workshop aimed to deepen their understanding of the environmental, economic and social transformations affecting tourism and strengthen their ability to report on these issues. The journalists will subsequently take part in a media campaign on sustainable tourism across the Mediterranean.

Tourism transformation is reshaping skills demand

The findings presented at the workshop point to recruitment pressures in several occupations that are essential to the sector, including cooks and kitchen staff, waiters and bartenders, receptionists and housekeeping staff.

These pressures are not simply about the number of workers available. They can also be linked to working conditions, seasonal or temporary employment, career prospects and access to training. A shortage may therefore reflect difficulties in attracting workers, retaining them in the sector or encouraging them to return.

This makes the quality of employment an integral part of the discussion about the future of tourism.

© Julien Chambolle

© Julien Chambolle

A changing skills mix

The sector’s skills needs are also evolving. Employers increasingly require profiles combining technical expertise with transversal skills such as communication, teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving.

Language and intercultural skills are important for customer-facing occupations and international mobility. Digital tools are also becoming increasingly important, from reservation and ordering systems to customer relations. Environmental skills, including responsible resource management and energy efficiency, are gradually being integrated into existing occupations.

No single solution

To make these issues more tangible, journalists took part in a quiz developed by the ILO around five questions on jobs and skills in tourism. Discussions focused in particular on labour shortages and the role of international mobility among the possible responses.

Training needs to respond more closely to changing occupations and skills. Employment services can help connect people with job opportunities. Governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations also need better labour-market information to anticipate future skills needs.

Where labour mobility forms part of the response, it should be based on skills matching, fair recruitment, recognition of skills and protection of workers. Mobility is therefore a complementary, rather than automatic, response to labour-market needs.

For journalists covering the transition towards more sustainable tourism, this perspective broadens the story. The future of tourism is not only about reducing its environmental footprint. It is also about ensuring that people working in hotels, kitchens, restaurants and throughout the tourism economy have the skills, opportunities and working conditions needed to take part in that transition.

© Julien Chambolle

© Julien Chambolle

About THAMM Plus

Towards a holistic approach to labour migration governance and labour mobility in North Africa (THAMM Plus) is a regional initiative funded by the European Union (DG MENA) and implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The programme supports improved governance of labour migration and mutually beneficial mobility between Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, and EU Member States.

About the workshop

Organized by Africa 21 in Monastir, Tunisia, from 21 to 25 September 2026, the workshop brought together 15 journalists from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to strengthen their knowledge of sustainable tourism, explore reliable sources and emerging issues, and prepare a regional media campaign on the sector’s transformation. The workshop combined expert sessions, practical journalism training and field visits. Partners included DW Akademie, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, UNESCO, MedWaves, Notre Grand Bleu and Iberostar Group.