Experts predict gap between tourism demand and available tourism workers
With New Zealand’s ongoing tourism boom, experts are predicting a shortage of skilled workers to keep up with the demand.
New Zealand’s tourism is absolutely booming. We’ve seen nothing but constant positive news stories about how much tourists are spending in New Zealand, rising visitor numbers, and more and more international conferences being held here.
It’s no wonder that now, experts are predicting that we simply won’t have enough workers in the tourism and travel industry to accommodate all of these visitors.
Tourism in New Zealand by numbers
In 2019, tourism in New Zealand was at its peak. The pandemic changed that, but tourism is growing quickly – and the government is aiming to see 4.78 million arrivals every year by 2034. That would be nearly 900,000 more visitors per year than we were getting at the peak seven years ago.
Tourism Industry Aotearoa Chief Executive Rebecca Ingram says that there won’t be enough staff to meet that need.
“We’re definitely going to have a gap if we continue the way we’re going so we need to put some focus on it and that’s why at (Tourism Industry Aotearoa), we have been focusing on it,” she said.
Importantly, she asked how tourism would be introduced as a topic in schools.
“What components can we expect for the tourism industry and how can we be part of guiding and building those together so that how tourism is represented in skills is going to provide us with a diverse range of students who can see multiple pathways for their career.”
Tourism Talent Managing Director Jason Hill said that one issue was that some people don’t think tourism jobs pay very well.
“It is a myth that tourism is a low paid industry. There are places where, yeah, minimum wage is what you get, but there are certainly places where you can earn good money as well,” he said.
Get the skills you need to start in tourism now
ITC is one of New Zealand’s leading providers of world-class travel and tourism qualifications. We’re well known in the industry for our high quality graduates, and employers know that an ITC qualification on a CV is an excellent green flag for any applicant.
Plus, if you start now, you will be graduating just in time for summer and the inevitable rush. Employers will be hiring at the end of 2026 to prepare for the summer season, and graduates with qualifications are often first in line for those roles.
The New Zealand Certificate in Tourism Level 3 is enrolling now for both our Auckland City Campus and Whangarei Campus, and both locations will begin in July. And if you don’t want to wait, or can’t relocate to those areas, you can always Study From Home and complete the same course online via distance learning instead!
For students who already have a Level 3 qualification, our New Zealand Certificate in Travel (Level 4) also begins in July at our Auckland City and Botany Campuses.
We can’t wait to meet our next intake of students and cheer them on as they graduate during such an exciting time for Aotearoa’s tourism. Will you be one of them?
Posted in News, Study inspiration, Travel and Tourism News | Tagged Employment opportunities, Study travel and tourism, Tourism demand, Worker shortage | Leave a reply