What kind of tourism talents will the world need in the future?
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt 王立基
Director Meaningful Tourism Centre / COTRI
Dear reader,
this Wednesday your humble editor is on the way to China to attend the First Dean’s meeting at the Sun Yat-sen University (Zhuhai Campus). Zhongshan Daxue is among the top 10 universities in China and is celebrating its centenary in 2024. The Tourism Department is “only” 20 years old, but has developed in one of the most important ones in China under the leadership of my colleagues and dear friends Bao Jigang and Xu Honggang.
To celebrate, leaders of tourism programs in universities from all over the world will come together in the coming days to discuss the future of academic tourism education. This is a necessary discussion: Students do not need lecturers anymore to learn about “facts”, Google or Baidu and Wikipedia, ChatGPT, Gemini etc. are providing such information within seconds. Learning which sources are trustworthy and how to understand that “facts” are always in somebody’s interest to present in a certain way is what is missing in the school education of many young talents. At the same time, Climate Change and an emerging scary new post-democratic world order are putting also tourism into a completely new surrounding which students will have to navigate in the future.
Your humble editor has been given the task to give a short presentation answering the question: “What kind of tourism talents will the industry need in the future?”. The question is already part of the problem. Tourism as the biggest industry in the world and one of the main sources of avoidable pollution can no longer just look at the interests of the “industry”. We need to put the interests of mankind in our focus, with future tourism leaders concentrating on developing Meaningful Tourism for a sustainable future. That’s why your humble editor changed the topic to “What kind of tourism talents will the world need in the future?” The presentation will argue that three major trends are shaping the future working world of tourism practicioners: Climate change, a worsening global political situation and AI. The results of these development will lead to new needs for tourism education not only in China:
Talents the world need in the future should be taught to:
· Embrace Creative Destruction
· Develop new business models
· Treat customers as co-creators
· Deeply understand IT and mathematics, but also
· Being able to react and pro-react to cultural and generational differences in demand and behaviour
· Work in international and in human-machine teams and to
· Put Meaningful Tourism as the central KPI for sustainable success.
Your humble editors’ days as a full-time professor are over, however, working now in Nepal has confirmed yet again the need for a very different tourism education if “the industry” is supposed to play its role in being a force for good in the uphill fight against Climate Change.
Next week COTRI Weekly Editorial will provide a report of the NICE Nepal India China Expo 2025 Roadshow, which will take place in Guangzhou on the 2nd of December and in Shenzhen on the 4th of December in cooperation with GITF Guangzhou International Travel Fair 2025. If you are in the area, please join!
As always, best regards from Prof. Dr. Arlt and the whole COTRI INTELLIGENCE team!
President/Founder at Africa Tourism Research Network (ATRN).
1moThis is a brilliant piece and perspective. I look forward to reading the full presentation.
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1moSafe trip Mr Wolfang Georg!
Research Scholar | Entrepreneur | Pondicherry University | UGC-NET & JRF Qualified | MBA | IITTM | DU
1moIt's a thought-provoking question that holds significant importance. As you rightly mentioned, the three trends of geopolitics, climate change, and AI are reshaping the tourism industry. The industry is at the forefront of addressing these challenges and opportunities.
Strategic Travel & Tourism Advisor | Speaker | Travel Tech Advisor | Podcast Host | Adventure Specialist | Community Building
1moGreat question. Some thoughts. Global Systems Thinkers – Strategists who understand the interconnectedness of global challenges (AI shift, climate change, political instability, economic shifts) and integrate solutions into tourism frameworks. Policy Influencers – Leaders who can shape tourism policies that balance growth and tech with environmental and social responsibilities. Tech-Savvy Innovators – Individuals with a deep understanding of AI, data analytics, and emerging technologies to drive the huge changes that tourism is about to experience. Last but probably the most important as Alex Bainbridge said. Leadership . AI-Human Leaders – Specialists in fostering collaboration between human and machine teams to enhance strategic decision-making and tactical operations.
PhD in Tourism Geography| Data scientist | Tourism and Public Health Research | Public policy and socioeconomic research | Project management
1moThank you, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt 王立基 for this truly enlightening post! Your vision of reshaping tourism education to prioritize Meaningful Tourism and sustainability, rather than simply focusing on industry goals, is both inspiring and essential for the future. The emphasis on critical thinking, adaptability, and ethical leadership for the next generation of tourism leaders is particularly impactful, addressing the challenges we are likely to face. The points raised by Alex Bainbridge about leadership and storytelling are especially thought-provoking. As AI continues to shape the industry, nurturing the ability to lead and critically assess AI-driven content will be crucial for future practitioners. Wishing you all the best for next week's COTRI Weekly Editorial and the NICE Nepal India China Expo 2025 Roadshow in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Although I wish I could attend, I am eagerly looking forward to your report and the invaluable insights that will emerge from these events. Safe travels and best wishes!