The tourism sector is in full transformation with digitalisation and sustainability as its main axes. The need for qualified professionals in these areas is increasingly evident, which led yesterday to the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) and the Tech Tourism Cluster to organize a participatory workshop with experts from the sector.

The session began with the institutional welcome of Ingrid Graells, president of the Tech Tourism Cluster and August Corrons, Vice-Dean of Alliances, Community and Culture of the Faculty of Economics and Business.

Next, the team of the UPAL (UOC Labour Prospection and Analysis Unit), led by Carme Pagès, presented data on the labour market in Catalonia and gave us very relevant information on how the double transition is affecting the labour market.

At one of the most important parts of the session, the UPAL colleagues organized a participatory workshop where, by groups made up of various companies, universities and tourism entities, discussed topics related to the field of talent applied to our sector.

To finish we talked and commented on the conclusions, which are explained below:

🔸Profiles that combine knowledge in data analytics, technology and tourism have gained importance. Digitalisation has transformed the way companies operate, and strategic data management has become a fundamental tool for improving efficiency and decision-making.

🔸 Need for constant adaptation. Continuous training is presented as a key challenge to ensure that professionals in the sector can keep pace with technological advances and new market trends. In this sense, the importance of collaboration between universities and companies was stressed to ensure that the training programs respond to the real needs of the sector.

🔸 The interdependence between digitalisation and sustainability was underlined. The ecological transition is a priority objective, and the implementation of sustainable technologies in tourism must be a clear commitment on the part of companies and institutions. Data management also plays a crucial role in this process, allowing monitoring the environmental impact and taking effective measures to reduce it.

🔸 The fundamental role of public administrations in the development of talent in the sector was highlighted. Clear support from institutions is necessary to promote initiatives that promote innovation and specialized training.

This workshop has been a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, establish connections between the different agents in the sector and define strategies to guarantee a more innovative and sustainable future in technological tourism. At the same time, it allows the Tech Tourism Cluster to continue working on the strategic challenge of Talent in our sector and bring universities closer to the companies of the entity.