By capturing a growing portion of the global market tourism can contribute directly addressing one of our country's most pressing problems, joblessness. Tourism is a multi industry sector which necessarily relies on products, goods and services from a wide number of other industries, including accommodation, transport, catering, retail, banking and fuel. It places demands on services such as cleaning, recreation, entertainment and health. It spawns opportunity in manufacturing, construction, food production - from the farmer through the processor to the purveyor. The multiplier effect is consequently very high.
Tourism relies on personal services and as a result is labour intensive.
The wide variety of skills and abilities it calls for ranges from airline pilots and tour operators, to receptionists, waiters, cleaners and porters. As we approach the Presidential Jobs Summit many of the findings in this study will prove invaluable in identifying the gaps and the opportunities to maximise job creation through tourism. Government, business and labour are agreed on the importance of this summit. Establishing a tourism training initiative with the assistance from Spain. Establishing a local tourism infrastructure upgrade programme.