A national campaign to address staff shortages in the tourism and hospitality sectors is being launched today by Fáilte Ireland.
The €700,000 marketing drive will run across national radio, print, online platforms and social media.
The aim of the initiative is to attract more people to jobs in the sector as the tourism industry faces into the busiest season of the calendar year.
The campaign will target people ranging in ages from 16 to the over 60s, with a particular focus on retirees and parents who, according to Fáilte Ireland research, are seeking flexible working arrangements and patterns.
Prior to the Covid pandemic, tourism accounted for 260,000 jobs in Ireland and in some regions of the country provided as many as 1 in 5 jobs.
It is understood that many people who previously worked in the industry may have retrained and gone to work in other sectors during the pandemic.
Many may also have left the country to return to their home countries for the duration of the pandemic.
According to the tourism development authority, recruitment and skills challenges currently being experienced are inhibiting the sector’s ability to recover, putting small and rural businesses in particular at risk.
“The loss of skilled workers and the difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff is the greatest barrier to the tourism sector’s recovery from the pandemic,” Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland said.
“Tourism is a critical part of the national economy, with a track record of providing employment opportunities in communities the length and breadth of the country, particularly in rural and regional areas,” he added.
Fáilte Ireland’s Director of Sector Development Jenny de Saulles said the urgency of the staffing and skills shortage is heightened as the industry faces into the busy summer season.
“Fáilte Ireland is working closely with the industry on a range of initiatives to help businesses to access talent pools, stand out in a competitive market and rebuild skills that have been lost during the pandemic,” she explained. Readmore
