The European Tourism & Hospitality Skills Strategy and Action Plan (2026-2036)

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.

THE PANTOUR EUROPEAN TOURISM & HOSPITALITY SKILLS STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN (2026-2036)

The PANTOUR Skills Strategy and Action Plan for 2026-2036 is an output of the Pact for Next Generation Skills Alliance (PANTOUR) consortium, which provides a roadmap for the next ten years for skilling, upskilling and reskilling the tourism and hospitality workforce.

This Action Plan translates educational needs identified over the course of the four year project, into actionable strategies that aligns with the latest policies. It provides pathways to support lifelong learning in digital, green and social sustainability, building from the NTG Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills. It promotes sustainable education and training initiatives to cultivate strong collaborations and support the tourism ecosystem. This includes advancing cooperation among industry stakeholders, educational institutions, social partners, and government bodies across the European Union.

THE NATIONAL REGIONAL SKILLS PARTNERSHIP MODEL AND SUSTAINABILITY OF PANTOUR (2026)

Over the past four years, the PANTOUR project has championed a powerful solution to the European tourism sector’s persistent skills gap: National and Regional Skills Partnerships (NRSPs). These collaborative platforms, bringing together industry, education, and public authorities, have proven to be vital engines for skills intelligence and workforce development. Now, as the project enters its final phase, the critical question is: what happens next? How can we ensure these valuable ecosystems of collaboration continue to thrive and deliver value long after the project funding ends?

This question is the central focus of our work in the report on the NRSP model and the long term roll-out and sustainability of project outputs, which not only oversees the establishment and monitoring of thirteen diverse NRSPs across Europe but also the development of a clear framework for their long-term sustainability. The legacy of PANTOUR is a living network and a replicable model for building a more resilient and competitive tourism sector.