The digital skills divide

Evidence from the European tourism industry

Bibliographic Data

ID19554385
AuthorsSheena Carlisle (0000-0002-0894-6832, Cardiff Metropolitan University), Stanislav Ivanov (0000-0002-6851-5823, Varna University of Management, corresponding author), Corné Dijkmans (Breda University of Applied Sciences)
Year2023
Volume9
Issue2
Pages240-266
Publication date2023-05-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Tourism Futures (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2055-5911 • E-ISSN: 2055-592X
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/jtf-07-2020-0114
OpenAlexW3134794712
LanguageEN
Citations received25
References cited54

Purpose This paper aims to present the findings from a European study on the digital skills gaps in tourism and hospitality companies. Design/methodology/approach Mixed methods research was adopted. The sample includes 1,668 respondents (1,404 survey respondents and 264 interviewees) in 5 tourism sectors (accommodation establishments, tour operators and travel agents, food and beverage, visitor attractions and destination management organisations) in 8 European countries (UK, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Hungary, Germany, the Netherlands and Bulgaria). Findings The most important future digital skills include online marketing and communication skills, social media skills, MS Office skills, operating systems use skills and skills to monitor online reviews. The largest gaps between the current and the future skill levels were identified for artificial intelligence and robotics skills and augmented reality and virtual reality skills, but these skills, together with computer programming skills, were considered also as the least important digital skills. Three clusters were identified on the basis of their reported gaps between the current level and the future needs of digital skills. The country of registration, sector and size shape respondents’ answers regarding the current and future skills levels and the skills gap between them. Originality/value The paper discusses the digital skills gap of tourism and hospitality employees and identifies the most important digital skills they would need in the future

Business · Geography · Hospitality · Hospitality industry · Knowledge management · Life skills · Originality · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Skills management · Social skills · Soft skills · Tourism · Visitor pattern · Computer Science · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Psychology · Sharing Economy and Platforms · Marketing

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access