World Tourism Day: Hiring in Indian travel and tourism industry up 44% YoY in August

Demand for gig roles within the travel industry increased since January this year. Sales associates, marketing communication professionals and engineers are among the top job roles in demand

Hiring for talent in the travel and tourism industry recorded a 44 percent increase in August 2023 versus 2022, according to data compiled by talent platform Foundit (formerly Monster APAC & ME).

Tier II cities led online hiring demand in the travel and tourism sector in August 2023. Cities like Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Chandigarh reported a maximum increase in job postings followed by Baroda and Coimbatore in August 2023 compared to the same period last year.

Freshers accounted for the highest demand share in travel and tourism as 49 percent of online hiring intent for jobs came from postings for entry-level talent with 0-3 years of experience, the data further noted.

Demand for intermediate-level or talent with 4-6 years of experience and top management with over 15 years of experience, both accounted for a 14 percent share of the overall demand.

The average minimum annual salaries range from  Rs 2.8-5.8 lakh for freshers, Rs 5.2-8.2 lakh for intermediate professionals, Rs 8.7-14 lakh for mid-senior roles and Rs 12-18.5 lakh for management professionals.

The sector also registered a 14 percent increase in gig roles since January 2023. While the COVID-19 pandemic impact led to layoffs in the travel and tourism space, companies are now focusing on gig workers to overcome the talent deficit.

"The nature of tourism often involves seasonal fluctuations in demand and the model of gig work is able to match these fluctuations, especially during peak seasons or for special events. Gig workers also help companies manage labour costs more efficiently during slower periods. Given the diverse and specialized needs of the travel and tourism industry, gig roles in the space include tour guides, translators, photographers, and event planners who are brought in on a per-project basis ensuring that the industry has access to the right expertise when it is needed," the Foundit report added.

In the pre-pandemic period, demand for talent hiring grew 19 percent in 2019. However, job postings fell 47 percent in 2020 and 27 percent in 2021. "While the industry began to bounce back with a marginal 3 percent hiring increase in 2022, it recovered significantly in 2023 as people regain confidence in travel and several notable government initiatives," the report added.

The top job roles in demand across the travel and tourism industry include sales and business development, engineers- software, electrical and marketing and communication. Job roles such as chefs and medical representatives also accounted for a considerable share of overall talent demand.