
Tourism in India has grown remarkably over the past two decades, driven by Government’s initiatives to boost domestic as well as international tourism. Significant investment in infrastructure development, adventure and sustainable tourism and global branding has helped India achieve this growth. As the sector flourishes, the demand from the workforce is also undergoing a change, requiring a shift in skills and capabilities to meet the industry’s changing needs.
Driving Job Growth
With government’s initiatives like Vision India @2047 targeting 100 million inbound tourists, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) projects the contribution of tourism to GDP to hit INR 43.25 trillion by 2034 and support nearly 63 million jobs.
According to the WTTC, one in 11 jobs will be in the Indian tourism and hospitality sector. 31% of jobs created in this sector in 2025 will be direct, including roles such as tour guides, hotel staff and tour operators, whereas 69% will be indirect jobs such as those in supply chains, management, logistics, IT support and landscape maintenance. Tourism and hospitality also have a multiplier effect as they lead to job creation in ancillary industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and utilities.
Evolving Workforce for Industry Needs
Initiatives such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0, Dekho Apna Desh, PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive), Adopt a Heritage Scheme, Rural Tourism Development, and Incredible India have demonstrated commitment by the Government to promote the industry. However, the changing nature of the workforce is something that private players need to proactively address.
Embracing Technology
While technology integration is critical for the industry, AI will never be able to replace the human touch as hospitality as a high touch field where human interactions is paramount. However, there is a growing need for skills in data analytics, AI management and digital strategy. This will particularly help travel companies, hotels and aviation and railway sectors to forecast trends, enhance operational efficiency, analyse customer behaviour and personalise marketing.
Bridging Skills Gap
As tourism and hospitality are a human first, behavioural and skill-based industry, skills gaps can result in significant wage disparities. Therefore, employees have to constantly focus on upskilling and reskilling, enhancing their competencies and working on their soft skills.
Untapped Potential of Local Economies
There is a need to harmonise local talent with regional attractions by providing skill development and livelihood enhancement opportunities. By equipping local residents with skills for the roles of tour guides and homestay operators, the tourist experience is enriched while fostering the ‘vocal for local’ mantra. This will allow the workforce to expand further into rural economies to drive sustainable growth.
Equitable Employment
Women represent a significant portion of the industry, yet they are underrepresented in managerial roles and earn less compared to males. Similarly, differently abled, LGBTQIA+ and marginalised sectors continue to be either underrepresented or underserved in the sector. However, growing demand in the sector provides an opportunity to create an inclusive workforce with equitable employment for all. Diversity, equity and inclusion are no longer optional for tourism and hospitality organisations. A diverse workforce not only brings varied perspectives and drives innovation but also enhances traveller experiences and improves livelihoods for underserved communities.
The CII National Committee on Tourism has played a catalytic role in promoting tourism as a mainstream industry by engaging with Government and industry stakeholders. Based on CII recommendation, the Ministry of Tourism is developing a RFP to carry out a capacity study of 20 natural heritage sites for adoption. Furthermore, it has also signed an MoU with the Ministry of Tourism to promote eco-tourism through carrying capacity study, conservancy and other engagements. Through roundtable discussions between Industry and Government, it has also helped develop roadmaps for tourism, suggest key policy changes and push for overall acceleration of domestic and international tourism demand.
By aligning the development of the tourism and hospitality sector with robust skill strategies, India can build a resilient and inclusive ecosystem that can drive economic growth, help in the creation of jobs and provide dignified and sustainable livelihoods to uplift its population.
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