The European Tourism & Hositality Skills Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2036 is live

The PANTOUR Skills Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2036) is the project’s flagship achievement and the culmination of four years of collaboration, research, stakeholder engagement, and skills intelligence across Europe.

The Strategy sets out a shared vision for the future of skills development in the European tourism sector and proposes 45 concrete actions to address current and emerging workforce challenges. It provides a practical roadmap for industry, education and training providers, policymakers, and social partners to strengthen the sector’s resilience, competitiveness, and attractiveness over the coming decade.

Developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders across Europe, the Action Plan translates the project’s findings into strategic priorities and actionable recommendations that support lifelong learning, upskilling, reskilling, and workforce innovation throughout the tourism ecosystem.

The National Regional Skills Partnership model and sustainability of PANTOUR

Alongside the Strategy, PANTOUR has developed a comprehensive framework for the long-term roll-out and sustainability of project outputs, ensuring that the tools, methodologies, partnerships, and knowledge generated by the project continue to create value beyond its funding period.

A key element of this legacy is the establishment of National and Regional Skills Partnerships (NRSPs). Over the course of the project, twelve NRSPs were created and supported across Europe, bringing together tourism businesses, education and training providers, public authorities, and other stakeholders. These collaborative platforms have demonstrated their value as effective mechanisms for skills intelligence, workforce development, stakeholder cooperation, and regional skills planning.

Building on the experience gained through the implementation and monitoring of these partnerships, PANTOUR has developed a replicable NRSP model and practical recommendations for long-term sustainability. The result is a living network and proven framework that can continue supporting skills development and collaboration across the European tourism sector for years to come.

Together, the PANTOUR Skills Strategy and Action Plan, the sustainability framework, and the NRSP model provide a lasting foundation for a more skilled, adaptable, and future-ready tourism workforce in Europe.

Download

Both documents are available for download.

PANTOUR Resource Book for educators, trainers, entrepreneurs and other tourism professionals is available

Access and download

The PANTOUR Resource Book is available for download and the Tourism Skills Lab is openly accessible via this link.

Webinar Tourism & Hospitality Training: Bridging Skills Gaps and Industry Needs | 16 April 2026

Training today is no longer about transferring knowledge. It’s about equipping people who can navigate change, make decisions in uncertainty, and turn sustainability and digitalisation into real action. On 16 April 2026, PANTOUR is organising a full-hour webinar around ”Tourism & Hospitality Training: Bridging Skills Gaps and Industry Needs”. This webinar is not about understanding theory, it is about what you can actually apply tomorrow in your work. Because lifelong learning is no longer just a concept, it is becoming a necessity. The tourism sector does not need more content. It needs better training. Training that sticks, that translates into action, and that prepares people for what’s next.

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Webinar Tourism & Hospitality Training: Bridging Skills Gaps and Industry Needs | 16 April 2026

Training today is no longer about transferring knowledge. It’s about equipping people who can navigate change, make decisions in uncertainty, and turn sustainability and digitalisation into real action. On 16 April 2026, PANTOUR is organising a full-hour webinar around ”Tourism & Hospitality Training: Bridging Skills Gaps and Industry Needs”. This webinar is not about understanding theory, it is about what you can actually apply tomorrow in your work. Because lifelong learning is no longer just a concept, it is becoming a necessity. The tourism sector does not need more content. It needs better training. Training that sticks, that translates into action, and that prepares people for what’s next.READ MORE

PANTOUR Final Conference 2026 functioned as a launchpad on 24 February in Brussels

Four years of skills development. Building upon another four years of research and outputs. Real momentum.

This week in Brussels, at the headquarters of ETOA – European tourism association, we organised the final conference of PANTOUR 2026.

Right in the heart of Europe’s tourism ecosystem, we brought together the sharpest insights, strongest outputs, and most honest reflections from four years of collaboration focused on the future of skills in tourism and hospitality.

This was not a “wrap-up.” It was a launchpad.

Each presentation and speaker brought a different lens. Together they brought a shared European perspective on how we future-proof talent in our sector, supporting the twin-transition. With contributions from:

Ana Maria Camps (CEHAT)
Corné Dijkmans (Breda University of Applied Sciences)
Fernanda Rabelo (TU Dublin)
Klaus Ehrlich (RURALTOUR)
Altti Näsi (SAMK)
Silvia Enea (Federturismo Confindustria)

The mix of curiosity and commitment that was experienced during this final conference is exactly what will shape the next chapter of tourism and hospitality in Europe. When people lean in, challenge each other, and build on ideas together, progress follows.

With the energy masterfully steered by our host and moderator Tim Fairhurst, we explored and discussed skills development from every possible angle; managing, monitoring, strategising, assessing, implementing, together with the participants we moved into another connected ambition.

PANTOUR has never just been a project. I has been a collaboration since 2018, built together with: Satakunta University of Applied Sciences – SAMK, Technological University Dublin, CEHAT – Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodations, Federturismo Confindustria, Gestlabor, University of the Aegean, ETOA – European tourism association, Hungarian Hospitality Employers’ Association (VIMOSZ), Zangador Research Institute, Breda University of Applied Sciences, European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB), Turismo de Portugal and RURALTOUR, and an extensive network of associate and affiliate partners, industry stakeholders and professionals who believe that skills are the foundation of a resilient, competitive, and forward-looking industry.

The full recap is coming soon.

For now: a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed, questioned, debated, and imagined what is next. The journey may be concluding, but the impact is only beginning. Stay tuned.

Thanks to Arran Wiltshire, Rachel Read, Laurence Lagier for hosting and facilitating us!

GEM 2025 to Host First PANTOUR International Conference: “Keeping Tourism Competitive”

The future of European tourism takes centre stage this autumn as GEM 2025 proudly hosts the first PANTOUR International Conference in collaboration with ETOA, a flagship event dedicated to equipping tourism professionals with the insights, skills, and strategies needed to stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Held on Monday, 3 November 2025, this landmark gathering will bring together industry leaders, educators, policymakers, and innovators from across Europe to address the most pressing issues shaping the future of tourism, from artificial intelligence and digital skills to sustainability and the evolving world of work.

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Tourism Education SIG Meeting – Connecting education to new skills and occupations

The transformation of tourism demands new skills and innovative occupational profiles. Within the PANTOUR project, 11 emerging job profiles have been developed to ensure the sector is ready for the digital and green transition. These profiles are designed to guide education and training providers, employers, and policymakers in preparing tourism professionals for the future.

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