best country to work in tourism industry

9 Highest Paying Countries for Hospitality and Tourism

Published on july 3, 2017 at 1:39 am by madison morgan in lists.

If you have a warm, welcoming personality and would like to live in a different country, you have come to the right place with our list of the 9 highest paying countries for hospitality and tourism.

Tourism is a massive industry all over the world. Being a tourist and enjoying all the sights and sounds that come with visiting a new country is one thing, but catering to those tourists is a whole different ballgame. There’s nothing worse than going on vacation and not receiving good service or hospitality. I love to travel all over the world, and my experiences are always made better by coming across hospitable people. It seems, to be great in the hospitality and tourism field, you must love working with people, have a positive attitude, and have an accommodating spirit. It probably also takes a ton of patience to deal with the guests who are not so lovely or easy to deal with. When I hear “hospitality and tourism”, I (like many people, I’m sure) immediately think about hotels. However, like I said, the industry is massive and encompasses much more than just hotels — including everything from casinos to food and beverage industries.

Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock.com

Would you like to settle down abroad enjoy the different cultures of nations? Are you planning to work in the hospitality and tourism industry? Or perhaps do you have a dream to have a small family hotel somewhere in the world? Now you can check what opportunities you can find while also moving into another country. If you’re young (or older) and want to see and experience the world, entering the industry is a fantastic way to do it. Also, once you have the necessary skills, they can pretty much carry over to any country. If hospitality and tourism don’t sound like the best fit for you, but you still want to move to a different country, take a look at our list of the  21 Highest paying countries for expats , where you are likely to find the country you would be happy to live and work in. Typically, to join the hospitality and tourism industry, you will first need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in hospitality management. From there, your opportunities are endless and you can start on a unique and global career path.

Even better than having a career that can take you to the far corners of the world, is having a career that pays well too. We intend to show you those countries where you make the highest earnings in hospitality and tourism. As these kinds of statistics are not easily available, we searched online job sites and compared the most common jobs in the tourism industry to other countries such as: waiters/waitresses, travel guides, travel agents, hotel and resort desk clerks, hosts and hostesses and other jobs involved in food services. All these salary averages have given us a total average across countries. You can check salaries for different countries and jobs here. You will find that our list is ranked by these average salaries.

If you are just two seconds from hopping on a plane to jet across the world, first take a look at the highest paying countries for hospitality and tourism.

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Top 6 countries to make a career in hospitality management.

• Shreya Berry
• December 21, 2020
• Last Updated: October 3, 2023

Table of Contents

The hospitality industry worldwide is renowned for the recruitment of over 8 million workers, with at least 1 out of 10 people worldwide predicted to be working in the hospitality sector by 2023. Hospitality Management covers numerous industries, such as restaurants, hotels, casinos, beaches, travel agencies, and airlines. In meeting and events management, the entertainment and recreation industry, facility management, and foodservice management, individuals may find job opportunities. A degree in hospitality management or related qualifications and work experience enables people to quickly achieve career success. The bulk of industries globally have well-paying opportunities. Switzerland, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand are some of the best destinations for a career in hospitality management.

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• Switzerland

The land of high mountains, sweets, watches, and picturesque attractions in Switzerland is the perfect destination for a career in hospitality management. Many of the world-renowned hotel chains, such as Palace Luzern, are headquartered here. Lucerne, Geneva Oriental Mandarin. The Dolder Grand, Geneva Metropolis, Hyatt Park, and a few names. Within the hospitality and tourism market, it has many job opportunities to deliver. There is an ample range of opportunities for foreign workers. Government openness, civil rights, global competitiveness, and human welfare all benefit from them. A revenue officer earns about CHF 42,500 annually, according to the salary scale, while a sales account executive earns about CHF 102,000 per annum. 

• United Kingdom

Established as the fourth largest employer in the hospitality sector, the United Kingdom sees a huge boom with many openings for job seekers in this region. According to the British Hospitality Association, the number of jobs in the hospitality sector is projected to rise from 388,000 to 454,100 by 2020. Within the industry, there are reportedly 260,000 companies recruiting workers worldwide to help improve jobs in this field. The United Kingdom is one of the best destinations for a career in hospitality management. There has also been a 31.6 percent growth in investments made in this business. A hotel manager earns around 20,364 pounds annually according to the salary scale, while a revenue manager makes 31,862 pounds. Hilton, Marriott, Accor, and Intercontinental are three of the biggest employers. Moreover, the UK has some of the best culinary training institutions like Le Cordon Bleu, London. 

Here are some of the best universities in the UK that offer impeccable courses in hospitality management – 

• University of Strathclyde
• University of Birmingham
• University of Surrey
• University of Kent
• Robert Gordon University
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Sheffield Hallam University
• University of Exeter
• Oxford Brookes University

United States

Getting a degree in hotel management allows students to fit in diverse roles such as lodging manager, facility manager, and operations manager in hotels. Graduates in hotel management are also considered for higher administrative positions and top executive roles. The annual median salary for an Administrative Services Manager in the US is around $96,180, whereas, the annual median salary for a Lodging Manager in the US is around $53,390. Top executives in the US, who oversee operational activities for a business or organization, earn around $104,980. Universities in the US offer bachelor degrees in hospitality management that go on for a period of 4 years. These courses prepare students for careers in Hospitality, Event Management, & Tourism. Examples of these courses include The Business of Leisure, Leisure and Tourism for a Diverse Society, Marketing in Tourism and Hospitality and The Business of Tourism and Hospitality. 

Here are some of the best destination for a career in hospitality management in the US –

• School of Hotel Management, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)
• The School of Hospitality Business, Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI)
• Conrad N. Hilton College, University of Houston (Houston, TX)
• William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV)
• Stout School of Hospitality Leadership, University of Wisconsin (Menomonie, WI)
• International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Fairleigh Dickinson University (Teaneck, NJ)
• W. A. Franke College of Business School of Hotel & Restaurant Management, Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ)
• Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
• College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
• Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Isenberg School of Management, University of University of Massachusetts Amherst 

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Canada, a leading destination for a career in hospitality management, offers students bachelor degrees in Hospitality and Hotel management. These courses typically run between 2-4 years and can be found in over 32 universities in Canada. Out of these 32 universities, 2 of them are considered “world-class” for their courses in hospitality management. These two universities are the University of Waterloo and Sait Polytechnic – School of Hospitality and Tourism. Canada’s rapid economic growth has led to an increase in the number of opportunities for migrant students. Securing a student loan to Canada , as well as securing a student visa is much easier in Canada than in other countries. 

Getting a hospitality management degree in Canada can be lucrative to most students. On average, hospitality management graduates can earn around $60,000 per year. Moreover, due to the diversity of the course, students can apply for a wide variety of jobs. 

Here are some of the best universities in Canada that offer courses in hospitality management – 

• University of Waterloo 
• Sait Polytechnic – School of Hospitality and Tourism 
• Toronto School of Management
• Humber College
• Thompson Rivers University
• Royal Roads University
• University of Prince Edward Island
• Cape Breton University
• Capilano University
• Ryerson University
• Centennial College

Australia is another destination for a career in hospitality management that is opening its doors to foreign hospitality industry workers. To build a lucrative career in this field, there are several colleges that offer courses and grants. Most hotel chains see their staff being moved from multiple locations. Since it is a growing tourism-boosting market, with money-spinning wages and perks, there are many possibilities for job seekers. Australia has proved to be one of the world’s most highest paying countries for hospitality. With around 350,000 jobs open, the hospitality sector has seen tremendous expansion. It turned out to be a work-friendly country with a significant foreign community living there—one of the most revenue-generating industries in the hospitality market. The average salary for a front office manager is about AU$ 60,621 , the revenue manager is about AU$ 67,725 , and the hotel manager earns about AU$ 61,972 . 

Here are the top destination for a career in hospitality management in Australia –

• Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School 
• Griffith University
• Bond University
• University of Queensland
• Murdoch University
• The Hotel School Sydney
• Edith Cowan University
• William Blue College of Hospitality Management
• Victoria University
• La Trobe University
• New Zealand

This country is the best destination for a career in hospitality management. New Zealand’s hospitality industry is the second-largest source of sales, accounting for about 13 percent of overall export revenue in 2015. The demand for jobs is projected to remain strong because of growth. Around 2015 and 2021, this sector is expected to see a rise of 11 percent, which means there is a massive inflow of work openings for job seekers with over 94,000 vacant positions. New Zealand is now a nation with an inclusive immigration program for people of international descent, making them available to the best country for hotel management jobs. The allowance is about NZ$ 55,500 for a revenue manager monthly, and the operations manager is about NZ$ 53,458 . 

Here are some of the best universities in New Zealand that offer great hotel management courses –

• Lincoln University
• Otago Polytechnic
• Southern Institute of Technology 
• Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
• New Zealand School of Tourism 

Top Countries For Hospitality Jobs In Terms Of Salaries 

Salary has always been one of the most important factors for hotel management professionals when deciding which company or country to work for. The starting salary for hotel management graduates is sometimes equal to or slightly higher than the minimum wage. The starting salary for hotel management professionals is not among the highest in the industry.

However, as one gains experience, one’s salary rises exponentially, and some of the best-paying hospitality jobs are unquestionably in the higher pay brackets. According to information from CEO World Magazine, the top nations with a minimum hourly wage are shown in the table below.

Top Countries For Hospitality Jobs In Terms Of Growth

In the past ten years, the hospitality and travel sector has experienced phenomenal growth, with the USA alone accounting for nearly 20% of global revenue in 2019. There has been a rebound in this since the pandemic-caused lull in 2023. The US continues to lead in terms of growth, contributing close to $1 trillion dollars. Additionally, the majority of the top hospitality businesses are based in the USA. 

Most nascent hospitality businesses as well as alternative lodging options like Airbnb have their roots in the USA. Thus, while the USA is still regarded as the world’s leading provider of hospitality services, Asian nations like Vietnam, Japan, and India are also expanding at a rapid rate. The list of nations with the highest growth rates for hiring in the hospitality industry is provided below.

• United States of America

Top Countries For Hospitality Professionals In Terms Of Satisfaction & Security 

Nobody wants to have a glamorous job that earns a fortune but is insecure. The importance of job satisfaction as a factor in employee retention at companies is also frequently cited. Which nations are doing the best job of ensuring a great workplace while also ensuring job security? 

When we looked more closely at job security plans, we discovered that European nations had higher standards for satisfaction and security. Professionals in the hospitality sector frequently lament their lengthy workdays. Professionals from the majority of European nations, however, put in less time than the global average. In these top nations, a 5-day work week is typical, just like in other professions. Except for a few, the worst-performing nations in terms of job security and satisfaction are those in Africa and Asia nations like South Korea, Japan, etc.

There are some European nations, such as Spain and Italy, whose job security policies are not as strong as those of Norway, Sweden, or Switzerland. Here are the top nations, in terms of growth and job satisfaction, for hotel management positions.

• South Korea
• Netherlands

Final Thoughts

Because all of the hotels are owned and managed by global companies, such as the Marriott, the Hyatt, and the Hilton, they are well aware of the corporate world’s basics and what it takes to remain in business. Employees are the cornerstone in this sector, and it is important to give them considerable advantages to recruit and retain outstanding members of the executive team and staff employees. In this sector, most of the major giants offer incredibly affordable healthcare packages and retirement programs. Generous maternity care, sick leave, and holiday pay plans are also sponsored by them. For different related college services, many also offer tuition reimbursement. This sector has immense promise and can only develop. So don’t let this dream of yours stay a dream.

1. Which country is known for its hospitality industry?

Switzerland holds the distinction of being the birthplace of hospitality, with a heritage dating back approximately 150 years. This legacy began with the construction of opulent hotels along the Montreux Riviera, marking the inception of luxury tourism in the region.

2. Which country is best for MBA in hospitality?

Switzerland is considered to be one of the best places to study hospitality programme.

3. Which language is best for hospitality industry?

In addition to English, which remains the dominant language, other languages such as Spanish, German, French, Mandarin, Russian, or Arabic are increasingly valuable to learn in today’s hospitality industry.

4. What are the benefits of building a hospitality management career in different countries?

Building a hospitality management career in different countries offers diverse cultural experiences and a broader skill set, increasing global job opportunities. It also provides exposure to various hospitality markets and business practices.

5. Are there cultural factors to consider when pursuing a hospitality management career abroad?

Cultural distinctions can manifest through dietary preferences, religious practices’ time and location, communication styles, and variations in educational and socio-economic backgrounds.

6. How does the cost of living and potential salary growth vary for hospitality managers in different countries?

The cost of living and salary growth for hospitality managers can significantly vary depending on the country, with some offering higher earning potential but also higher living costs than others. Factors like economic stability, demand for hospitality services, and regional economic conditions play a vital role.

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The future of tourism: Bridging the labor gap, enhancing customer experience

As travel resumes and builds momentum, it’s becoming clear that tourism is resilient—there is an enduring desire to travel. Against all odds, international tourism rebounded in 2022: visitor numbers to Europe and the Middle East climbed to around 80 percent of 2019 levels, and the Americas recovered about 65 percent of prepandemic visitors 1 “Tourism set to return to pre-pandemic levels in some regions in 2023,” United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), January 17, 2023. —a number made more significant because it was reached without travelers from China, which had the world’s largest outbound travel market before the pandemic. 2 “ Outlook for China tourism 2023: Light at the end of the tunnel ,” McKinsey, May 9, 2023.

Recovery and growth are likely to continue. According to estimates from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for 2023, international tourist arrivals could reach 80 to 95 percent of prepandemic levels depending on the extent of the economic slowdown, travel recovery in Asia–Pacific, and geopolitical tensions, among other factors. 3 “Tourism set to return to pre-pandemic levels in some regions in 2023,” United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), January 17, 2023. Similarly, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasts that by the end of 2023, nearly half of the 185 countries in which the organization conducts research will have either recovered to prepandemic levels or be within 95 percent of full recovery. 4 “Global travel and tourism catapults into 2023 says WTTC,” World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), April 26, 2023.

Longer-term forecasts also point to optimism for the decade ahead. Travel and tourism GDP is predicted to grow, on average, at 5.8 percent a year between 2022 and 2032, outpacing the growth of the overall economy at an expected 2.7 percent a year. 5 Travel & Tourism economic impact 2022 , WTTC, August 2022.

So, is it all systems go for travel and tourism? Not really. The industry continues to face a prolonged and widespread labor shortage. After losing 62 million travel and tourism jobs in 2020, labor supply and demand remain out of balance. 6 “WTTC research reveals Travel & Tourism’s slow recovery is hitting jobs and growth worldwide,” World Travel & Tourism Council, October 6, 2021. Today, in the European Union, 11 percent of tourism jobs are likely to go unfilled; in the United States, that figure is 7 percent. 7 Travel & Tourism economic impact 2022 : Staff shortages, WTTC, August 2022.

There has been an exodus of tourism staff, particularly from customer-facing roles, to other sectors, and there is no sign that the industry will be able to bring all these people back. 8 Travel & Tourism economic impact 2022 : Staff shortages, WTTC, August 2022. Hotels, restaurants, cruises, airports, and airlines face staff shortages that can translate into operational, reputational, and financial difficulties. If unaddressed, these shortages may constrain the industry’s growth trajectory.

The current labor shortage may have its roots in factors related to the nature of work in the industry. Chronic workplace challenges, coupled with the effects of COVID-19, have culminated in an industry struggling to rebuild its workforce. Generally, tourism-related jobs are largely informal, partly due to high seasonality and weak regulation. And conditions such as excessively long working hours, low wages, a high turnover rate, and a lack of social protection tend to be most pronounced in an informal economy. Additionally, shift work, night work, and temporary or part-time employment are common in tourism.

The industry may need to revisit some fundamentals to build a far more sustainable future: either make the industry more attractive to talent (and put conditions in place to retain staff for longer periods) or improve products, services, and processes so that they complement existing staffing needs or solve existing pain points.

One solution could be to build a workforce with the mix of digital and interpersonal skills needed to keep up with travelers’ fast-changing requirements. The industry could make the most of available technology to provide customers with a digitally enhanced experience, resolve staff shortages, and improve working conditions.

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Complementing concierges with chatbots.

The pace of technological change has redefined customer expectations. Technology-driven services are often at customers’ fingertips, with no queues or waiting times. By contrast, the airport and airline disruption widely reported in the press over the summer of 2022 points to customers not receiving this same level of digital innovation when traveling.

Imagine the following travel experience: it’s 2035 and you start your long-awaited honeymoon to a tropical island. A virtual tour operator and a destination travel specialist booked your trip for you; you connected via videoconference to make your plans. Your itinerary was chosen with the support of generative AI , which analyzed your preferences, recommended personalized travel packages, and made real-time adjustments based on your feedback.

Before leaving home, you check in online and QR code your luggage. You travel to the airport by self-driving cab. After dropping off your luggage at the self-service counter, you pass through security and the biometric check. You access the premier lounge with the QR code on the airline’s loyalty card and help yourself to a glass of wine and a sandwich. After your flight, a prebooked, self-driving cab takes you to the resort. No need to check in—that was completed online ahead of time (including picking your room and making sure that the hotel’s virtual concierge arranged for red roses and a bottle of champagne to be delivered).

While your luggage is brought to the room by a baggage robot, your personal digital concierge presents the honeymoon itinerary with all the requested bookings. For the romantic dinner on the first night, you order your food via the restaurant app on the table and settle the bill likewise. So far, you’ve had very little human interaction. But at dinner, the sommelier chats with you in person about the wine. The next day, your sightseeing is made easier by the hotel app and digital guide—and you don’t get lost! With the aid of holographic technology, the virtual tour guide brings historical figures to life and takes your sightseeing experience to a whole new level. Then, as arranged, a local citizen meets you and takes you to their home to enjoy a local family dinner. The trip is seamless, there are no holdups or snags.

This scenario features less human interaction than a traditional trip—but it flows smoothly due to the underlying technology. The human interactions that do take place are authentic, meaningful, and add a special touch to the experience. This may be a far-fetched example, but the essence of the scenario is clear: use technology to ease typical travel pain points such as queues, misunderstandings, or misinformation, and elevate the quality of human interaction.

Travel with less human interaction may be considered a disruptive idea, as many travelers rely on and enjoy the human connection, the “service with a smile.” This will always be the case, but perhaps the time is right to think about bringing a digital experience into the mix. The industry may not need to depend exclusively on human beings to serve its customers. Perhaps the future of travel is physical, but digitally enhanced (and with a smile!).

Digital solutions are on the rise and can help bridge the labor gap

Digital innovation is improving customer experience across multiple industries. Car-sharing apps have overcome service-counter waiting times and endless paperwork that travelers traditionally had to cope with when renting a car. The same applies to time-consuming hotel check-in, check-out, and payment processes that can annoy weary customers. These pain points can be removed. For instance, in China, the Huazhu Hotels Group installed self-check-in kiosks that enable guests to check in or out in under 30 seconds. 9 “Huazhu Group targets lifestyle market opportunities,” ChinaTravelNews, May 27, 2021.

Technology meets hospitality

In 2019, Alibaba opened its FlyZoo Hotel in Huangzhou, described as a “290-room ultra-modern boutique, where technology meets hospitality.” 1 “Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has a hotel run almost entirely by robots that can serve food and fetch toiletries—take a look inside,” Business Insider, October 21, 2019; “FlyZoo Hotel: The hotel of the future or just more technology hype?,” Hotel Technology News, March 2019. The hotel was the first of its kind that instead of relying on traditional check-in and key card processes, allowed guests to manage reservations and make payments entirely from a mobile app, to check-in using self-service kiosks, and enter their rooms using facial-recognition technology.

The hotel is run almost entirely by robots that serve food and fetch toiletries and other sundries as needed. Each guest room has a voice-activated smart assistant to help guests with a variety of tasks, from adjusting the temperature, lights, curtains, and the TV to playing music and answering simple questions about the hotel and surroundings.

The hotel was developed by the company’s online travel platform, Fliggy, in tandem with Alibaba’s AI Labs and Alibaba Cloud technology with the goal of “leveraging cutting-edge tech to help transform the hospitality industry, one that keeps the sector current with the digital era we’re living in,” according to the company.

Adoption of some digitally enhanced services was accelerated during the pandemic in the quest for safer, contactless solutions. During the Winter Olympics in Beijing, a restaurant designed to keep physical contact to a minimum used a track system on the ceiling to deliver meals directly from the kitchen to the table. 10 “This Beijing Winter Games restaurant uses ceiling-based tracks,” Trendhunter, January 26, 2022. Customers around the world have become familiar with restaurants using apps to display menus, take orders, and accept payment, as well as hotels using robots to deliver luggage and room service (see sidebar “Technology meets hospitality”). Similarly, theme parks, cinemas, stadiums, and concert halls are deploying digital solutions such as facial recognition to optimize entrance control. Shanghai Disneyland, for example, offers annual pass holders the option to choose facial recognition to facilitate park entry. 11 “Facial recognition park entry,” Shanghai Disney Resort website.

Automation and digitization can also free up staff from attending to repetitive functions that could be handled more efficiently via an app and instead reserve the human touch for roles where staff can add the most value. For instance, technology can help customer-facing staff to provide a more personalized service. By accessing data analytics, frontline staff can have guests’ details and preferences at their fingertips. A trainee can become an experienced concierge in a short time, with the help of technology.

Apps and in-room tech: Unused market potential

According to Skift Research calculations, total revenue generated by guest apps and in-room technology in 2019 was approximately $293 million, including proprietary apps by hotel brands as well as third-party vendors. 1 “Hotel tech benchmark: Guest-facing technology 2022,” Skift Research, November 2022. The relatively low market penetration rate of this kind of tech points to around $2.4 billion in untapped revenue potential (exhibit).

Even though guest-facing technology is available—the kind that can facilitate contactless interactions and offer travelers convenience and personalized service—the industry is only beginning to explore its potential. A report by Skift Research shows that the hotel industry, in particular, has not tapped into tech’s potential. Only 11 percent of hotels and 25 percent of hotel rooms worldwide are supported by a hotel app or use in-room technology, and only 3 percent of hotels offer keyless entry. 12 “Hotel tech benchmark: Guest-facing technology 2022,” Skift Research, November 2022. Of the five types of technology examined (guest apps and in-room tech; virtual concierge; guest messaging and chatbots; digital check-in and kiosks; and keyless entry), all have relatively low market-penetration rates (see sidebar “Apps and in-room tech: Unused market potential”).

While apps, digitization, and new technology may be the answer to offering better customer experience, there is also the possibility that tourism may face competition from technological advances, particularly virtual experiences. Museums, attractions, and historical sites can be made interactive and, in some cases, more lifelike, through AR/VR technology that can enhance the physical travel experience by reconstructing historical places or events.

Up until now, tourism, arguably, was one of a few sectors that could not easily be replaced by tech. It was not possible to replicate the physical experience of traveling to another place. With the emerging metaverse , this might change. Travelers could potentially enjoy an event or experience from their sofa without any logistical snags, and without the commitment to traveling to another country for any length of time. For example, Google offers virtual tours of the Pyramids of Meroë in Sudan via an immersive online experience available in a range of languages. 13 Mariam Khaled Dabboussi, “Step into the Meroë pyramids with Google,” Google, May 17, 2022. And a crypto banking group, The BCB Group, has created a metaverse city that includes representations of some of the most visited destinations in the world, such as the Great Wall of China and the Statue of Liberty. According to BCB, the total cost of flights, transfers, and entry for all these landmarks would come to $7,600—while a virtual trip would cost just over $2. 14 “What impact can the Metaverse have on the travel industry?,” Middle East Economy, July 29, 2022.

The metaverse holds potential for business travel, too—the meeting, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector in particular. Participants could take part in activities in the same immersive space while connecting from anywhere, dramatically reducing travel, venue, catering, and other costs. 15 “ Tourism in the metaverse: Can travel go virtual? ,” McKinsey, May 4, 2023.

The allure and convenience of such digital experiences make offering seamless, customer-centric travel and tourism in the real world all the more pressing.

Three innovations to solve hotel staffing shortages

Is the future contactless.

Given the advances in technology, and the many digital innovations and applications that already exist, there is potential for businesses across the travel and tourism spectrum to cope with labor shortages while improving customer experience. Process automation and digitization can also add to process efficiency. Taken together, a combination of outsourcing, remote work, and digital solutions can help to retain existing staff and reduce dependency on roles that employers are struggling to fill (exhibit).

Depending on the customer service approach and direct contact need, we estimate that the travel and tourism industry would be able to cope with a structural labor shortage of around 10 to 15 percent in the long run by operating more flexibly and increasing digital and automated efficiency—while offering the remaining staff an improved total work package.

Outsourcing and remote work could also help resolve the labor shortage

While COVID-19 pushed organizations in a wide variety of sectors to embrace remote work, there are many hospitality roles that rely on direct physical services that cannot be performed remotely, such as laundry, cleaning, maintenance, and facility management. If faced with staff shortages, these roles could be outsourced to third-party professional service providers, and existing staff could be reskilled to take up new positions.

In McKinsey’s experience, the total service cost of this type of work in a typical hotel can make up 10 percent of total operating costs. Most often, these roles are not guest facing. A professional and digital-based solution might become an integrated part of a third-party service for hotels looking to outsource this type of work.

One of the lessons learned in the aftermath of COVID-19 is that many tourism employees moved to similar positions in other sectors because they were disillusioned by working conditions in the industry . Specialist multisector companies have been able to shuffle their staff away from tourism to other sectors that offer steady employment or more regular working hours compared with the long hours and seasonal nature of work in tourism.

The remaining travel and tourism staff may be looking for more flexibility or the option to work from home. This can be an effective solution for retaining employees. For example, a travel agent with specific destination expertise could work from home or be consulted on an needs basis.

In instances where remote work or outsourcing is not viable, there are other solutions that the hospitality industry can explore to improve operational effectiveness as well as employee satisfaction. A more agile staffing model  can better match available labor with peaks and troughs in daily, or even hourly, demand. This could involve combining similar roles or cross-training staff so that they can switch roles. Redesigned roles could potentially improve employee satisfaction by empowering staff to explore new career paths within the hotel’s operations. Combined roles build skills across disciplines—for example, supporting a housekeeper to train and become proficient in other maintenance areas, or a front-desk associate to build managerial skills.

Where management or ownership is shared across properties, roles could be staffed to cover a network of sites, rather than individual hotels. By applying a combination of these approaches, hotels could reduce the number of staff hours needed to keep operations running at the same standard. 16 “ Three innovations to solve hotel staffing shortages ,” McKinsey, April 3, 2023.

Taken together, operational adjustments combined with greater use of technology could provide the tourism industry with a way of overcoming staffing challenges and giving customers the seamless digitally enhanced experiences they expect in other aspects of daily life.

In an industry facing a labor shortage, there are opportunities for tech innovations that can help travel and tourism businesses do more with less, while ensuring that remaining staff are engaged and motivated to stay in the industry. For travelers, this could mean fewer friendly faces, but more meaningful experiences and interactions.

Urs Binggeli is a senior expert in McKinsey’s Zurich office, Zi Chen is a capabilities and insights specialist in the Shanghai office, Steffen Köpke is a capabilities and insights expert in the Düsseldorf office, and Jackey Yu is a partner in the Hong Kong office.

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10 Best Countries to Work in the World in 2024

Julie fell in love with traveling in Costa Rica which led to years of volunteering, teaching, and...

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There are often questions we ask ourselves growing up: Where do you see yourself in a few years? Where would you like to live and work? What will that work look like? Most likely, very few answered with mundane, static responses, instead hoping to “live the dream in a far away beach town” or “explore the cities of the world one country at a time!”

Have you ever dreamed of calling an international city home?

In fact, in a new world with remote work becoming increasingly the norm , many are harkening back to these questions and reexamining their current situation. Why can’t I be living and working in a seaside town or glittery metropolis? There’s a new type of traveler in town and they mean business: the remote worker.

Oh where, oh where in the world will you go this year or next? The best countries to work in the world in 2024 may surprise you—and inspire you!

Is it easy for Americans to get work visas abroad?

First things first: Travel (short and long term) still requires paperwork. So let’s talk about visas! For holders of an American passport, acquiring a work visa can be quite easy, or quite difficult, depending on the the following factors:

• The relationship between the US and the country issuing the visa;
• Covid-19 cases in the US and throughout the world;
• The economic benefit to the country issuing the visa;
• Your personal travel history, work you intend to pursue, and other general information

Countries with job opportunities for foreigners often have an easier visa process, with support available. The best countries to work in the world will have flexible visa regulations and an expat community you could potentially be a part of. Having a network of support overseas, whether expat or local, can be a game changer when it comes to having a fulfilling experience.

READ: International Visas: What You Need to Know

10 best countries for expats to work.

Where to work abroad depends on your interests, skills, background, and goals for your future. Here are 10 of the best countries in the world to live and work to guide you on your journey!

1. South Korea

If you want to work abroad as an English teacher, don’t skip South Korea.

• Why? Teaching abroad can be one of the most rewarding work abroad experiences. South Korea is one of the best countries in the world to live and work because of its burgeoning economy, diverse population, compelling culture, and openness to foreigners.
• Plus, native English speakers are often paid very well and provided affordable (or free!) accommodation to teach English in South Korean schools. Working abroad in South Korea isn’t all about work though; spend free time sampling local cuisine, learning the language , and exploring Seoul!
• Recommended program: CIEE: Teach English in South Korea + Rent-Free Housing
• Why? France is an excellent country to work abroad due to its high standard of living, beautiful cities and landscapes, and large expat community. The French highly value their language, and you’re sure to pick it up given they’ll expect you to learn it!
• With a au pair or tutoring job , your language skills will improve exponentially. While it may be a bit difficult to secure a work visa, the effort is well worth it to score a job in one of Europe’s most influential countries.
• Recommended program: Mômji: Part-time Nannying and Tutoring Jobs in France
• Why? Many find work in Japan as English teachers, but did you know there’s also a demand for ski and snowboard instructors? If you’re a big fan of the outdoors, consider traveling to work at some of the biggest ski resorts in the world.
• With large mountain ranges and frequent snowfall, Japan is a haven for both veteran skiers and those with an interest in learning. There are also courses you can take prior to becoming an instructor. Other jobs include caring for the elderly and agricultural work.
• Recommended program: EA Ski & Snowboard Instructor Training: Winter Gap Year - Become a Ski or Snowboard Instructor

In Canada, the great outdoors can be your office.

• Why? For US citizens in particular, the neighbor in the north may be the most attractive option for work abroad . With visas relatively easy to obtain by US passport holders, and sponsorships sometimes attainable through Canadian employers, it’s a great option for many. Jobs in tourism and hospitality are the most popular and available, but there are also opportunities in the education, technology, and healthcare industries as well.
• Recommended program: INTERNeX Pacific: Canada Hotel and Resort Jobs

5. New Zealand

• Why? Find work in childcare as an au pair, learn about agriculture with an internship, or live an active lifestyle with a job in adventure tourism; New Zealand truly offers it all. Not to mention, this island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean is hands down one of the most beautiful places to live and work in the world!
• Consisting of the North and South Islands, New Zealand offers diversity in both population and landscape. The country has also recently made headlines with its progressive health policies and stance on international issues like climate change.
• Recommended program: BUNAC: Work New Zealand
• Why? Germany should not be overlooked when you’re deciding where to live and work abroad! You have a great chance of gaining employment as the economy is strong and unemployment is low. Germans are known to have a great work-life balance, meaning you’ll have time to explore local sights, take part in festivals and events, and spend time expanding your international network.
• The country requires insurance for all, is predominantly welcoming to foreigners and immigrants, and has opportunities ranging from data science to camp counseling. That’s why Germany is one of the best countries to work abroad!
• Recommended program: LEOlingo: Be a Language Camp Counselor in Southern Germany (Bavaria)

7. Cambodia

Southeast Asia is full of beauty and adventure!

• Why? Most likely, if you’ve been looking for work abroad, you’ve seen that teaching English is one of the best gigs available if you’re not ready to commit to learning a language or getting a new degree. This is especially true in Cambodia, where you can easily live and travel on a teacher’s salary.
• By teaching, you’ll be making a positive difference in the lives of your students, and be traveling in a more sustainable way. This is a great option for those looking to work abroad as soon as possible!
• Recommended program: Premier TEFL: Best 12-Month TEFL Internship in Cambodia

8. Singapore

• Why? Singapore is an island city-state in Southeast Asia, located below the Malaysian Peninsula. It’s a hub of activity, where travelers and locals meet in busy markets and city streets. Expats have long extolled what a perfect place Singapore is to live and work. It’s considered one of the cleanest and safest places in Asia; a mecca for those seeking jobs abroad in a culturally diverse and interesting place.
• Recommended program: i-to-i TEFL: Get a TEFL Job Abroad with an i-to-i TEFL Course

9. United Kingdom

• Why? If you’re between the ages of 18 and 30, you may qualify for a working holiday visa in the UK. Even if you need to apply for a different type of work visa, the past two years have taken their toll on businesses in the United Kingdom, and jobs there are a-plenty!
• Some opportunities even provide accommodation and support prior to arrival. If you’re interested in moving to a location where you already know the lingo, this may be a great option for you. You’ll also have access to transportation around the country and Europe!
• Recommended program: Global Work & Travel: Working Holiday in the UK

10. Ecuador

No doubt you'll make some cool new friends here!

• Why? Ecuador is one of the best countries for expats to work. You’ll find that most work in the tourism or education sector, but there are opportunities with multinational companies as well. The country flaunts an ideal climate, lively community celebrations and traditions, unrivaled natural wonders, and a low cost of living. Additionally, you’re sure to be surrounded by other expats willing to help a fellow adventurer.
• Recommended program: Travel For Teens: International Trip Director/Camp Counselor

More resources to help you work abroad

• 10 Cheapest Countries to Live and Work
• 11 Countries Where It’s Easy to Get a Work Visa
• 14 Cool Careers Involving Languages and Travel
• 8 Countries That Offer Freelance Visas
• Jobs Abroad Directory on GoAbroad.com

The best places to work abroad are waiting!

Reach your full potential by working and traveling abroad. When browsing countries with job opportunities for foreigners, think about what you’re hoping to gain from the experience, and why it will be so rewarding.

You’ll be diving into new cultures, learning new languages, meeting new people, and seeing extraordinary sights, all while continuing to bring home a paycheck.

Get out from behind those four walls and a desk, and see if you can make those childhood answers to “where do you want to go when you grow up” ring true!

Explore ALL Job Opportunities Abroad on GoAbroad.com

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What next for travel and tourism? Here's what the experts say

In many countries, more than 80% of travel and tourism spending actually comes from the domestic market. Image:  Unsplash/Surface

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Julie Masiga

.chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} Explore and monitor how .chakra .wef-15eoq1r{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;color:#F7DB5E;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-15eoq1r{font-size:1.125rem;}} Travel and Tourism is affecting economies, industries and global issues

.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;color:#2846F8;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{font-size:1.125rem;}} Get involved with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale

Stay up to date:, travel and tourism.

• In 2020 alone, the travel and tourism sector lost $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs globally.
• But as the world recovers from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel and tourism can bounce back as an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient sector.
• Two experts highlight some of the key transformations in the sector going forward during the World Economic Forum's Our World in Transformation series.

The Travel & Tourism sector was one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving not only companies but also tourism-driven economies severely affected by shutdowns, travel restrictions and the disappearance of international travel.

In 2020 alone, the sector lost $4.5 trillion and 62 million jobs, impacting the living standards and well-being of communities across the globe. Moreover, the halt in international travel gave both leisure and business travellers the chance to consider the impact of their choices on the climate and environment.

Amid shifting demand dynamics and future opportunities and risks, a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient travel and tourism sector can be - and needs to be - built.

The World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021 finds that embedding inclusivity, sustainability and resilience into the travel and tourism sector as it recovers, will ensure it can continue to be a driver of global connectivity, peace and economic and social progress.

We spoke to Sandra Carvao , Chief of Market Intelligence and Competitiveness at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and Liz Ortiguera , CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association in Thailand (PATA), and asked them to highlight some of the key areas of risk and opportunity in the sector during an episode of the World Economic Forum's Our World in Transformation series.

Have you read?

Travel & tourism development index 2021: rebuilding for a sustainable and resilient future, towards resilience and sustainability: travel and tourism development recovery, how can we really achieve sustainability in the travel sector, what are some of the top global trends you're witnessing currently in the travel and tourism sector.

Liz Ortiguera: Given the extended lockdown that we had on travel with the pandemic, vacation for friends and relatives (VFR) is now a high priority for people who haven’t been in touch for a long time thanks to the pandemic. So, people are reconnecting. And that kind of links to the second trend, which is multi-purpose or blended travel. Never before, particularly now that we can connect digitally through Zoom, has the ability to work from anywhere enabled travellers to cover multiple purposes, like visits with friends and multiple business trips. So, we'll find that the duration of travel and the length of stay is longer. And third is the continued high focus on safety and wellness which is top of mind for travellers due to the pandemic. All travel is wellness-related now.

Sandra Carvao: I think there is a bigger concern with sustainability, which is very welcome in our industry. Consumers, particularly the younger generation, are much more aware of the impact they have, not only on the environment but also socially and on the communities they live in. We've also seen an increase in expenditure per trip, so I think people are very eager to go outside, and they're staying longer. And on the other side, I think there are some challenges: we’re seeing a rise in late bookings because restrictions can change at short notice and that’s having an impact on the decisions of travellers. This is putting pressure on the industry in terms of planning and anticipating fluctuations in demand.

Social media surveys have shown that travellers who have immersive experiences are more likely to post about them, which is good for the industry.

What is community-based tourism and why is it important?

Sandra Carvao: One of the positive impacts of the pandemic is that people are looking for local experiences and are spending more time with communities. So, the concept of community-based tourism is obviously one that puts the community at the core of every development, ensuring that it's engaged and empowered and that it benefits. At the UNWTO, we worked with the G20 and the Saudi presidency back in 2020 and produced a framework for tourism development in communities, which states that communities need to be part of the planning and management of tourism activities. We need to go beyond traditional definitions of community to a point where the industry leans on partnerships between the public and private sectors and communities.

Liz Ortiguera: In July 2022, PATA is hosting a destination-marketing forum and one of the key themes is community-based tourism. The purpose is really to put the community and authenticity-in-culture activities at the heart of the travel experience. There are benefits for all stakeholders. One is that travellers can have an authentic experience. They're not in overcrowded, touristic locations and they experience something new and unique within the community. These experiences are designed in partnership with communities who get the benefit of financial inclusion, and if activities are designed properly, the reinforcement of their cultural heritage. Governments also engage in economic development more broadly across countries. Another interesting trend is creative tourism, which means you create an experience for tourists to participate in, like a dance lesson, or a cooking lesson. Social media surveys have shown that travellers who have these kinds of immersive experiences are more likely to post about them online and that's good for the industry.

It is important to emphasize that virtual experiences, while they are a fun tool, can never replace visiting a destination.

How is technology and innovation helping to leverage cultural resources?

Sandra Carvao: One interesting trend we’re seeing is that more and more people are booking trips directly, so communities need to be supported to digitize their systems. Education and upskilling of communities are important so that they can leverage digital platforms to market themselves. From the tourists’ perspective, it is important to emphasize that virtual experiences, while they are a fun tool, can never replace visiting a destination.

Liz Ortiguera: People have been living virtually for more than two years. Amazing innovations have emerged, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, and all kinds of applications and tools. But the important thing is the experience. The destination. Real-world experiences need to remain front and centre. Technology tools should be viewed as enablers and not the core experience. And when it comes to staff, technology can really democratize education. There’s an opportunity to mobilize a mobile-first approach for those who are on the frontlines, or out in the field, and can’t easily access computers, but need to get real-time information.

How is the sector dealing with labour shortages and re-employment of the workforce?

Liz Ortiguera: Labour shortages are much more dynamic in North America and in Europe. But it’s having a knock-on effect on Asia. If, for example, their air carriers are limited by staff and they have to cancel flights, which we're very much seeing out of Europe, seating capacity then becomes a limiting factor in the recovery of Asia Pacific. That's the main constraint right now. And compounding that is the rising price of fuel. But people in the Asia Pacific are keen to get reemployed.

Sandra Carvao: Labour shortages are a priority for the sector in countries around the world. Many workers left the sector during the pandemic and the uncertainty that surrounded the measures taken to contain it left many people unsure of whether the sector would recover. It is time to address things like conditions, scheduling, and work/life balance, all things which have been top of mind for workers during the pandemic. As the sector recovers, we need time to bring new hires on board and to train them to take over where those who switched jobs left off.

Are we seeing a growing trend towards domestic tourism?

Sandra Carvao: We’re talking about 9 billion people travelling within their own countries. And in many countries, for example in Germany, more than 80% of the tourism spending actually comes from the domestic market, similarly in countries like Spain and even smaller economies. Whenever it's possible to travel again, domestic markets tend to be more resilient. They kick off first mostly due to perceptions of safety and security issues. As the world economy recovers from the pandemic, there is a good opportunity for nations to rethink their strategy, look at the domestic market in a different way, and leverage different products for domestic tourists.

When it comes to sustainable tourism, how quickly could we mainstream eco-friendly modes of transportation?

Sandra Carvao: Transport is one of the key contributors to energy impacts and tourism. But it's also important that we look at the whole value chain. The UNWTO together with the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme just launched the Glasgow Declaration, which includes green commitments from destinations and companies. We’re seeing a strong movement in the airline industry to reduce emissions. But I think, obviously, technological developments will be very important. But it's also very important to look at market shifts. And we can't forget small islands and developing states that rely on long-haul air travel. It’s important to make sure that we invest in making the problem much less impactful.

Liz Ortiguera: 'Travel and tourism' is such a broad encompassing term that it’s not fair to call it an industry: it is actually a sector of many industries. The pandemic taught us how broad the impact of the sector is in terms of sustainability. There's a big movement in terms of destination resilience, which is the foundation for achieving sustainability in the journey to net-zero. We now have standards to mitigate that impact including meetings-and-events (MIE) standards and standards for tour operators. There are multiple areas within our industry where progress is being made. And I'm really encouraged by the fact that there is such a focus not just within the sector but also among consumers.

This interview was first done at the World Economic Forum's studios in Geneva as part of 'Our World in Transformation' - a live interactive event series for our digital members. To watch all the episodes and join future sessions, please subscribe here .

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World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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A Guide to Tourism Jobs Abroad

Why find tourism jobs abroad?

For those addicted to travel, tourism jobs abroad are often the first and most natural career choice. Since there are a number of employment paths in the tourism field, what you choose to do is somewhat dependent on where you choose to live. It is also always exciting to live and work abroad in countries that most people only dream of traveling to!

Why Work Abroad in Tourism

Working in tourism abroad is an excellent way to get real experience in the field you are interested in. It also demonstrates on your resume that you have the practical knowledge necessary to be successful in the highly competitive and always developing world of tourism.

While working abroad at a hotel, resort, restaurant, local attractions, events and conferences, tourism board, or travel company, you’ll gain hands-on experience in the core of the industry: travel and each of its moving parts to accommodate guests. While working abroad in tourism, your skills will grow significantly by learning the systems and processes utilized abroad. You’ll learn how local issues impact the tourism industry as well as how tourism impacts local communities.

Best Locations

With international travel expanding to include regions and countries otherwise overlooked in previous years, tourism jobs abroad can stretch to all corners of the world.

Europe is one of the most highly-visited continents by travelers throughout the world. These countries have been popular for centuries, making a culture of tourism deeply rooted in European societies. Destinations such as France , Italy , and Spain are especially popular, and the tourism industries there are concentrated on the historical and cultural traditions of each country. 

Australia and New Zealand have been experiencing an increase in tourism in recent years. From the coasts, to the mountains, to bustling cities, these countries are prime locations for those looking to explore beyond the well-worn path of Europe’s historical landmarks. Tourists in Australia and New Zealand are typically younger, making for a very vibrant and energetic travel culture that can be exciting to work in.

South America and Central America , with their indigenous and Hispanic cultures, ancient ruins, and delicious food, have been making a name for themselves in the tourism industry. Ecotourism has boomed in certain countries, such as Costa Rica, shifting travelers’ exploration to an emphasis on rainforests and beaches, and emphasizing an appreciation for natural wonders.

What Else You Need to Know

There are a number of different paths to take when searching for a tourism job abroad, and your decision on what career to follow is entirely dependent on your skills, goals, and where you plan to work. 

What makes these jobs valuable abroad versus in your home country . International tourism jobs can set you on a path towards an exciting career that allows you to continue to experience the rewarding challenges and excitement of living and working abroad. Future employers will see that you have practical knowledge and hands-on experience in the tourism industry, which will be helpful as you continue your career.

Professional benefits you can gain . Working in tourism abroad is an excellent way to get real experience in the field you are interested in. It also demonstrates on your resume that you have the practical knowledge necessary to be successful in the highly competitive and always developing world of tourism.

A day on the job . Whether working abroad at a hotel, resort, restaurant, local attractions, events and conferences, tourism board, or travel company, your day-to-day will always be different. You’ll gain hands-on experience in the core of the industry through travel and each of its moving parts to accommodate guests.

Salaries & Affordability

Salaries for international tourism jobs will vary depending on what part of the industry you decide to work in and what country you choose to live in.

The average flight attendants’ salary is around $38,800, whereas those interested in working as a tour guide can make anywhere between $27,000 and $40,000, although your salary is commensurate with your level of knowledge and experience. When working as a contracted tour guide (hired by another company to give tours), the company will typically pay you a lower base salary, with the assumption that you will earn more in tips.

In Europe, full-time work in hospitality will pay approximately $1,500 a month, sometimes with a room and some food provided. However, this may vary from country to country; the type of establishment (hostel vs. resort) may also affect your salary too.

Although the corporate world of travel provides less on-the-ground experience, you are compensated by a higher salary. Tour consultants for companies that organize tours abroad can earn on average around $41,000 with the opportunity for bonuses.

GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop

While working abroad in tourism, your skills will grow significantly by learning the systems and processes utilized abroad. You’ll learn how local issues impact the tourism industry as well as how tourism impacts local communities. Some countries require you to have a sponsored visa in order to live and work in-country. Additionally, working as a freelance tour guide in certain parts of the world requires a level of education on par with that of a university history professor in order to be a certified guide. You must know your chosen region or country thoroughly in order to be an effective guide.

Working in tourism abroad does not necessarily mean that you will simply be paid to travel. (Salaries for international tourism jobs will vary depending on what you do and what country you choose to live in.) It is a challenging, time-consuming field of work that requires a great deal of dedication and know-how in order to succeed. However, it is also an incredibly rewarding career path that connects you with other travelers and the country in which you decide to work abroad in. Not to mention the opportunity to live where others are merely vacationing is a huge bonus!

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Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Global tourism industry - statistics & facts

What are the leading global tourism destinations, digitalization of the global tourism industry, how important is sustainable tourism, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide 2019-2033

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 1950-2023

Global leisure travel spend 2019-2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2022

Travel and tourism employment worldwide 2019-2033

Related topics

Recommended.

• Hotel industry worldwide
• Travel agency industry
• Sustainable tourism worldwide
• Travel and tourism in the U.S.
• Travel and tourism in Europe

Recommended statistics

• Basic Statistic Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP worldwide 2019-2033
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism: share of global GDP 2019-2033
• Basic Statistic Leading global travel markets by travel and tourism contribution to GDP 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Global leisure travel spend 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Global business travel spending 2001-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 1950-2023
• Basic Statistic Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2023, by region
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism employment worldwide 2019-2033

Total contribution of travel and tourism to gross domestic product (GDP) worldwide in 2019 and 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism: share of global GDP 2019-2033

Share of travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP worldwide in 2019 and 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in leading travel markets worldwide in 2019 and 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leisure tourism spending worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Global business travel spending 2001-2022

Expenditure of business tourists worldwide from 2001 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 1950 to 2023 (in millions)

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide 2005-2023, by region

Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 2005 to 2023, by region (in millions)

Number of travel and tourism jobs worldwide from 2019 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2033 (in millions)

• Premium Statistic Global hotel and resort industry market size worldwide 2013-2023
• Premium Statistic Most valuable hotel brands worldwide 2023, by brand value
• Basic Statistic Leading hotel companies worldwide 2023, by number of properties
• Premium Statistic Hotel openings worldwide 2021-2024
• Premium Statistic Hotel room openings worldwide 2021-2024
• Premium Statistic Countries with the most hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Global hotel and resort industry market size worldwide 2013-2023

Market size of the hotel and resort industry worldwide from 2013 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Most valuable hotel brands worldwide 2023, by brand value

Leading hotel brands based on brand value worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading hotel companies worldwide 2023, by number of properties

Leading hotel companies worldwide as of June 2023, by number of properties

Hotel openings worldwide 2021-2024

Number of hotels opened worldwide from 2021 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2024

Hotel room openings worldwide 2021-2024

Number of hotel rooms opened worldwide from 2021 to 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2024

Countries with the most hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide 2022

Countries with the highest number of hotel construction projects in the pipeline worldwide as of Q4 2022

• Premium Statistic Airports with the most international air passenger traffic worldwide 2022
• Premium Statistic Market value of selected airlines worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Global passenger rail users forecast 2017-2027
• Premium Statistic Daily ridership of bus rapid transit systems worldwide by region 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of users of car rentals worldwide 2019-2028
• Premium Statistic Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023
• Premium Statistic Carbon footprint of international tourism transport worldwide 2005-2030, by type

Airports with the most international air passenger traffic worldwide 2022

Leading airports for international air passenger traffic in 2022 (in million international passengers)

Market value of selected airlines worldwide 2023

Market value of selected airlines worldwide as of May 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Global passenger rail users forecast 2017-2027

Worldwide number of passenger rail users from 2017 to 2022, with a forecast through 2027 (in billion users)

Daily ridership of bus rapid transit systems worldwide by region 2023

Number of daily passengers using bus rapid transit (BRT) systems as of April 2023, by region

Number of users of car rentals worldwide 2019-2028

Number of users of car rentals worldwide from 2019 to 2028 (in millions)

Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023

Number of users in selected countries in the Car Rentals market in 2023 (in million)

Carbon footprint of international tourism transport worldwide 2005-2030, by type

Transport-related emissions from international tourist arrivals worldwide in 2005 and 2016, with a forecast for 2030, by mode of transport (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)

Attractions

• Premium Statistic Market size of museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks worldwide 2022-2027
• Premium Statistic Leading museums by highest attendance worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide 2019-2022
• Basic Statistic Monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list 2023, by type
• Basic Statistic Selected countries with the most Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide 2023

Market size of museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks worldwide 2022-2027

Size of the museums, historical sites, zoos, and parks market worldwide in 2022, with a forecast for 2023 and 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Leading museums by highest attendance worldwide 2019-2022

Most visited museums worldwide from 2019 to 2022 (in millions)

Most visited amusement and theme parks worldwide 2019-2022

Leading amusement and theme parks worldwide from 2019 to 2022, by attendance (in millions)

Monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list 2023, by type

Number of monuments on the UNESCO world heritage list as of September 2023, by type

Selected countries with the most Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide 2023

Number of Michelin-starred restaurants in selected countries and territories worldwide as of July 2023

Online travel market

• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Forecast EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Premium Statistic Forecast EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028

Online travel market size worldwide from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2023

Estimated desktop vs. mobile revenue of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide in 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Forecast EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Forecast enterprise value to revenue (EV/Revenue) ratio in the online travel market worldwide in 2024, by segment

Forecast EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Forecast enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio in the online travel market worldwide in 2024, by segment

Selected trends

• Premium Statistic Global travelers who believe in the importance of green travel 2023
• Premium Statistic Sustainable initiatives travelers would adopt worldwide 2022, by region
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb nights and experiences booked worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Technologies global hotels plan to implement in the next three years 2022
• Premium Statistic Hotel technologies global consumers think would improve their future stay 2022

Global travelers who believe in the importance of green travel 2023

Share of travelers that believe sustainable travel is important worldwide in 2023

Sustainable initiatives travelers would adopt worldwide 2022, by region

Main sustainable initiatives travelers are willing to adopt worldwide in 2022, by region

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb nights and experiences booked worldwide 2017-2023

Nights and experiences booked with Airbnb from 2017 to 2023 (in millions)

Technologies global hotels plan to implement in the next three years 2022

Technologies hotels are most likely to implement in the next three years worldwide as of 2022

Hotel technologies global consumers think would improve their future stay 2022

Must-have hotel technologies to create a more amazing stay in the future among travelers worldwide as of 2022

• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment
• Premium Statistic Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2019-2028, by segment

Revenue of the global travel and tourism market from 2019 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2018-2028

Revenue share of sales channels of the travel and tourism market worldwide from 2018 to 2028

Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Inbound tourism visitor growth worldwide from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide 2020-2025, by region

Outbound tourism visitor growth worldwide from 2020 to 2022, with a forecast until 2025, by region

Further reports Get the best reports to understand your industry

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Best Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Internships for 2024 & 2025

Jan 21, 2022 • Alice Budd

Are you looking to gain international work experience in the tourism, hospitality or travel industries? At Intern Abroad HQ, we offer a diverse range of overseas internships and virtual internships that can set you up for a successful career in hospitality, tourism and travel.

Employers in this sector favor a global mindset and international experience with reputable travel organisations across the world. Our tourism and hospitality internship programs are personalized to suit your career goals, enabling you to gain relevant experience, build a deep cultural intelligence and nurture soft skills. These are essential if you are to flourish in the fast-paced and competitive tourism and hospitality industries.

Why do tourism employers favour candidates who have interned abroad?

If you’re seeking a career in the tourism industry, then having experience traveling abroad is a huge bonus. Interning abroad is strongly associated with a range of impressive skills which you can add to your job applications or CV, such as:

• Confidence and the ability to push yourself out of your comfort zone
• Independence and excellent organisational skills
• Strong communication and people skills
• Deep cross-cultural understanding and respect
• Highly motivated, open minded and conscientious
• High impact work experience that benefits both people and the planet
• Ability to set goals and achieve them

Best Tourism & Hospitality internships abroad

Intern Abroad HQ offers a wide range of hospitality, travel and tourism internship placements in some of the most sought after destinations around the world. These programs give interns the opportunity to gain relevant experience on real world tourism projects with some of the most cutting-edge and impactful travel and hospitality organisations around the world.

Our flexible booking policy makes it easy to change your dates, internship and destination for free. Check out our range of fully-hosted overseas tourism internships below.

Where can you do a Hospitality & Tourism internship abroad?

Tourism & hospitality management in bali.

Tourism and hospitality are two of Bali’s biggest and fastest growing industries, making this an exciting place to gain work experience. Whether you want to help attract more customers through marketing or improve the customer experience, Tourism & Hospitality Management internships in Bali are highly customized to suit your area of interest. There is opportunity to be placed in a wide range of tourism companies, hotels, visitor attractions, restaurants and more.

Hospitality & Tourism in Guatemala

Antigua is one of the most iconic cities in Guatemala and has long been a favorite amongst tourists for its colorful streets and dramatic volcano backdrop. Hospitality and Tourism interns are able to get valuable industry exposure by assisting in hands-on roles across a range of placements to suit your career goals. This includes tourism start-ups, hotels and high-end hostels, tour operators and more.

Tourism Operations in Ireland

This tourism internship provides the unique opportunity to combine sightseeing with career development. Interns are placed with tour companies in Dublin and get to experience world-class, full day tours around the city and wider Ireland, acting as mystery shoppers to provide feedback and contribute ideas on ways to improve. You’ll also get the chance to develop your social media marketing and customer service skills.

‘My internship involved me being a secret shopper. I visited the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Wicklow and other places - where I would rate the tours, compile the details, and present back to the company. I learned about marketing and how to run social media websites for a tourist company. What I enjoyed most about my time was knowing that I could work for a company in Ireland, get used to the culture, get used to being in this type of work environment and feel confident about it.’ - Kenneth Sitkowski, Tourism Operations Internship in Ireland

Tourism & Hospitality in South Africa

Cape Town has been named by both the New York Times and the British Daily Telegraph as “the best place in the world to visit”, making it the perfect place to complete a Tourism & Hospitality internship. Interns have the opportunity to gain experience in tourism, hospitality management, online marketing, sales, or customer service - and all roles are customized to suit your goals. Whether you’re interning on a winery or with an adventure company, this is an amazing way to gain relevant experience while enjoying the sites of Cape Town!

Tourism & Hospitality in Zanzibar, Tanzania

The paradise island of Zanzibar is a hidden gem in the Indian Ocean and is fast becoming one of Africa’s most popular tourist destinations - for good reason! Tourism & Hospitality interns have the chance to gain hands-on experience in hotels, resorts, boutique accommodation, restaurants, tourism operations, or even with water sports companies as a surf or diving instructor. Internship roles are personalized to your experience and objectives - and give you the once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy this stunning island while helping tourists to do the same!

Hospitality & Hotel Management in Ireland

Irish hospitality is known across the world for being welcoming, warm and lively! These Hospitality and Hotel Management internships enable interns to gain hands-on experience and contribute to the vibrant hospitality industry in and around Dublin. Placements are in a range of high quality hotels, restaurants or bars, helping to serve customers and contributing to their operations and marketing alongside experienced professionals.

‘One of the best experiences of my entire life! I was placed with an incredible family, put into a great work environment, and given the time to explore and take in the culture and ways of life of the local people. I met so many lifelong amazing friends, made connections, unforgettable memories, and furthered my knowledge in my line of study. I couldn’t thank Intern Abroad HQ enough for all of the support and one-on-one connection that they provided during this time.’ - Emily Hughes, Hospitality & Hotel Management in Ireland

Events, Business and Marketing internships abroad in the tourism industry:

If you’re looking to gain Marketing, Events or Business experience in a travel or tourism setting, Intern Abroad HQ offers a wide range of internship opportunities that cater to this. Here are a few of the most popular options:

• Marketing & Communications in Peru (placements available in tourism agencies)
• Event Management in Bali (placements in tourism companies)
• Marketing & Sales in Bali (placements in tourism companies)
• Cultural & Artistic Heritage in Italy (placements in museums and art galleries)
• Business & Commerce in Czech Republic (placements available in tourism)
• Marketing & Communications in Spain (placements available in tourism)
• Cultural Arts in Zanzibar (placements in artisan markets)
• Event Management & PR in New Zealand (placements available in hospitality)

‘The best internship I’ve ever had. The summer I spent in Cusco, Peru was incredible, to say the least. I loved my internship placement so, so much. I was interning with an NGO that works with Indigenous communities to buy and sell their textiles for fair trade prices, provide scholarships for their youth, and support sustainable tourism to indigenous villages.’ - Guilia Piscitelli , Marketing & Communications in Peru

How can I get started?

Our step-by-step guide on how it works provides you with more information on how to get started. The process is user friendly and there are two options you can take to get the ball rolling.

If you’re unsure of which internship program is right for you, you can simply check availability to submit an enquiry which will help us to point you in the right direction. If you want to chat over the phone, you can also find our full contact information here .

If you already have an idea of what you want to do, and when you want to do it, you can submit your application . It doesn’t cost anything and won’t take more than 5 minutes. However, your formal expression of interest provides the foundation for us to help you take the next steps.

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These Countries Are the Best for Tourism

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#15 in Best Countries Overall

Italy is a south-central European country, whose boot-shaped borders extend into the Mediterranean Sea. The country’s historical cities, world-renowned cuisine and geographic beauty make it a popular destination for more than 40 million tourists each year. The nation is home to Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest and most active volcano, and houses two countries within its borders – the Vatican and San Marino.

GDP PC, PPP

GDP PER CAPITA, PPP

#17 in Best Countries Overall

A number of independent kingdoms united in 1492 to form the Kingdom of Spain, a cultural patchwork that continues to shape the modern nation’s dynamic identity. Spain comprises much of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Portugal on the southwestern edge of Europe. It also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and two enclaves in North Africa.

#12 in Best Countries Overall

It is difficult to overstate the influence  France has on the world, both in the past and today. Located in Western Europe, France is one of the world’s oldest countries, and its reach extends around the globe through science, politics, economics and perhaps above all, culture. Starting in the Middle Ages, France evolved through kingdom, empire and finally, into a republic. It was one of the first nations to champion the rights of the individual.

#27 in Best Countries Overall

Located in southeastern Europe, Greece as an independent nation is young, existing since the 19th century. Its civilization, however, is one of history’s oldest and most influential, credited with creating the concept of democracy as well as the ancient Olympic Games, and laying Western foundations in science, the arts and philosophy.

#4 in Best Countries Overall

The Commonwealth of Australia occupies the Australian continent. The country also includes some islands, most notably Tasmania. Indigenous people occupied the land for at least 40,000 years before the first British settlements of the 18th century.

Switzerland

#1 in Best Countries Overall

Switzerland, officially called the Swiss Confederation, is a small country in Central Europe made up of 16,000 square miles of glacier-carved Alps, lakes and valleys. It is one of the world’s wealthiest countries, and has been well-known for centuries for its neutrality.

New Zealand

#8 in Best Countries Overall

British and Polynesian influences course through picturesque New Zealand, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Australia . Early Maori settlers ceded sovereignty to British invaders with the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, and European settlers flooded in. Today, 70 percent of Kiwis, a common term for the people of New Zealand after a native flightless bird, are of European descent. A sense of pride has surged among the Maori, the country’s first settlers who now account for about 14 percent, as homeland grievances become more openly addressed.

#29 in Best Countries Overall

Thailand, which translates to “land of the free,” is the only Southeast Asian nation that did not encounter European colonization. Located just above the equator, the nation is wedged into the Indochina peninsula with neighbors Myanmar , Laos and Cambodia and has an arm that extends out to Malaysia .

#34 in Best Countries Overall

Egypt, with vast swaths of desert in its east and west and the rich Nile River Valley at its heart, is site to one of the world’s earliest and greatest civilizations. Its location at the northeast corner of Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea has made it a cultural and trading center. But its location has also made it a prize to claim by empires and put it at the center of social and religious movements.

#6 in Best Countries Overall

Japan, one of the world’s most literate and technically advanced nations, is an East Asian country made up of four main islands. While most of Japan is covered by mountains and heavily wooded areas, the country’s roughly 126 million people lead a distinctly urban lifestyle. Long culturally influenced by its neighbors, today the country blends  its ancient traditions with aspects of Western life.

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THE JOURNAL

Travel Advisor Resources

Fora’s Guide to the Best Career in Travel and Tourism

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora Travel

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/career-in-travel-and-tourism

Interested in a career in travel and tourism? We’re detailing the current state of travel, the various opportunities available and tips for dipping your toes in the field. 

Interested in the coolest career in travel and tourism? Skip the reading and apply to become a Fora Advisor today.

Travel careers vs. tourism careers: is there a difference?

Technically, all tourism careers can be called travel careers. But the opposite doesn’t hold up. Tourism is largely associated with leisure (and, to an extent, education) while travel can be leisurely or professional. 

What’s the job outlook for careers in travel and tourism?

Most jobs in the travel industry are on the upswing right now, so now’s a good time to start a career in travel and tourism.

Travel is currently at an all-time high

Since pandemic restrictions waned, travel has come back with a vengeance (there’s actually a term for it ). As a result, most careers in travel and tourism are thriving. 

A word of caution: seasonal travel jobs are less secure long term

No matter how popular travel becomes, seasonal jobs are not the best option if you’re looking for long-term work. 

On the flip side, most seasonable jobs in travel and tourism are only intended to be part-time. If you’re explicitly interested in a career, you’ll probably avoid seasonal positions anyway.

Want a career in travel and tourism with unmatchable flexibility? Sign up to become a Fora Advisor .

Tips for securing a career in tourism and travel

There are a few skills and tips that are broadly applicable to careers in travel and tourism. Read on for a quick breakdown.

Develop critical skills: most travel or tourism careers require excellent communication skills

At their heart, virtually all careers in travel and tourism regularly deal with people. As such, having great interpersonal skills will go a long way regardless of your career path.

Marketing skills may also be helpful if you choose a career that requires self-promotion, as with tour operators or travel advisors.

(Looking to boost your marketing skills? Fora offers extensive advisor training: we’ll teach you everything from optimizing your social media to how to build a sales funnel within a travel context .)

Learning multiple languages can be helpful

Few careers will put you in contact with so many people of different backgrounds than travel and tourism. Likewise, learning additional languages — even a few basic phrases — can make a big difference in your prospects.

Of course, this isn’t a requirement to work with a global travel agency like Fora, so consider this a boost rather than a requirement.

While traveling isn’t usually a requirement for tourism and travel careers, it can help

On one hand, having extensive travel experience can broaden your perspective, which can be beneficial to a career in travel and tourism. 

On the other hand, needing prior travel experience is one of the great myths about becoming a travel advisor . In this case, simply having a passion for travel and knowing when to lean on research tools — like Fora’s community app Forum and integrated advisor portal — is more than sufficient to be successful.

Understand industry trends

Having your finger on the pulse of the travel industry may provide helpful context for a career in travel. 

For instance, France has been the most-visited country for the past three years. Travel planners who were aware of this and conducted a little bit of extra research for France itineraries may have had an edge over competitors who weren’t as prepared. 

There are no guarantees when it comes to industry trends — that’s their nature — but simply having context for what’s going on in the business can make a difference in your career.

Network with travel and tourism professionals

Running a successful business in a vacuum is nearly impossible. Just about every career, in travel and tourism or otherwise, can benefit from networking. Not only can this be an excellent source for business, but it can help you land a career in the field in the first place.

Consider your education options

Many careers in travel and tourism are more accessible to candidates with degrees or some type of formal education.

That being said, if travel planning is appealing, you should know that Fora doesn’t require any experience or education to join. Rather, we provide all the travel agent training and travel agent certification you could need to be successful.

Interested? Apply to become a Fora Advisor .

8 options for a career in travel and tourism

There are dozens of different careers in travel and tourism, but here are a few of the more popular choices (all of which are doing fairly well at the moment).

1. Tours: operators & guides

Perhaps on the lower end of the income spectrum, tour guides in coveted destinations get to wax poetic about all sorts of subjects, from haunted houses in NOLA (see our guide to New Orleans, off the beaten path ) to old battlefields, historic castles and more.

Tour operators, the entities responsible for employing guides, tend to make a more lucrative living at the expense of working in more of an administrative role.

The former often requires extensive knowledge on the subject while the latter may be relegated to entrepreneurs and / or those with business degrees.

2. Hospitality: hotel staff & managers

Hospitality jobs — think hotels and resorts — are seeing an explosion right now in the United States.

Entry-level positions, including labor-intensive roles like housekeepers and customer-facing roles like receptionists, rarely have strict hiring criteria. But they also tend to pay on the lower end of the spectrum as far as careers in travel and tourism are concerned. 

Senior positions such as hotel managers, on the other hand, can be very fruitful careers. The trade-off, of course, is that they require a degree in hospitality or years of experience.

3: Sommeliers

Sommeliers may be an unexpected addition to our list of travel and tourism careers. But most wine tastings occur in sought-after destinations like Napa Valley, one of the best places to visit in California (see our guide to Napa hotels ), or Tuscany in Italy (read about where to stay in Tuscany ). 

This rare profession is reserved for oenophiles, however. And, perhaps just as important, it often requires plenty of experience in the industry before a livable wage is achievable, especially considering most sommeliers live in areas with a high cost of living.

4. Airlines: flight attendants & general staff

Perhaps the most widely available career in travel and tourism: general airline staff. That’s essentially everyone from security at airport doors to flight attendants on planes. Most positions require limited experience or education, if any, and most pay decent hourly wages or salaries. 

Flight attendants get to travel regularly, which is a fun perk. But the prospect of working with unruly passengers may not be appealing to all.

5. Airlines: pilots

Airline pilots enjoy one of the more enviable salaries of careers in tourism and travel. But they also require tons of specialized training and education that’s not readily accessible across the country. In fact, this requirement is partly why there are so many openings for pilots across the airline industry, despite great pay and benefits.

6. Cruises: general staff & cruise directors

One of the most grueling careers in the travel and tourism industry: cruise staff. Lower positions typically have unforgiving schedules and mediocre pay while director positions are, though often very well paid, extremely selective.

On the flip side, working on a cruise ship can be a blast, and some cruise lines allow their employees to go on shore leave (in case you wanted to check out Bahamas resorts , the most beautiful cities in Mexico …you get the idea).

(P.S. If you’re a fan of swanky cruises but aren’t necessarily jumping at the chance to live aboard, perhaps selling trips as a Virgin Voyages travel agent is the opportunity you’re looking for.)

7. Cruises: navigation, engineering & other specialists

Specialist roles on cruises are often even more selective than airlines and client-facing roles, requiring lengthy experience in adjacent fields (e.g., shipping, the military and so on). Examples might include cruise ship mechanics or engineers, ship captains and even onboard doctors. 

The pay for these travel and tourism careers is often substantial, but again, the education and experience criteria are tip-top.

8. Travel advisors

What does it take to become a travel agent (a.k.a travel advisor or travel consultant )? Compared to other top careers in travel and tourism, not much — and yet, top earners among travel advisors enjoy very generous salaries (see more about Fora travel advisor salaries ). In fact, learning how to become a travel agent is fairly straightforward — at least if you join us, as we provide all the training you need to be successful. 

It’s also one of the most flexible careers in travel, and the only major career in the field that allows professionals to operate their business as an independent entity. Not to mention you get to sell adventure and happiness to excited clients, making it a wholly enjoyable job for established advisors.

So what do travel agents do exactly? They plan trips and make reservations on their clients’ behalf. 

Interested? Sign up to become a Fora Advisor and enjoy an extensive suite of benefits unparalleled among modern travel agencies.

Career in travel and tourism FAQs

Have more questions about careers in travel and tourism? We have a few answers for you.

What career is best for traveling?

Looking for jobs where you travel — or desire an income source to fund your ventures while traveling the world ? Cruise and airline positions allow you to travel often, but considering most jobs are either low paying or have very tough requirements, these careers will only appeal to some. 

If you’re looking for a career that allows you to travel whenever you like with practically no experience or education stipulations, travel planning may be your best bet.

What’s the highest-paying job in travel and tourism? 

This is hard to answer because there is a lot of nuance involved. 

Specialist positions on cruise ships and hotel managers tend to be lucrative travel or tourism careers. Successful travel advisors make comparable income, too, though. That’s especially true for corporate and luxury travel advisors who work with more discerning clients.

(BTW: how much do travel agents make anyway ?)

Is the tourism industry right for you? Is corporate travel a better alternative?

The tourism industry isn’t for everyone, particularly for people who aren’t overly social. That being said, if you’re more interested in professional discourse, you may still consider being a corporate travel agent . There’s a different vibe to this sort of travel planning that may be more appealing to some.

Will a niche or specialization help you land a travel or tourism career?

In terms of travel planning, certainly; there are tons of different travel agent jobs . 

Beyond that, it depends on the role. For example, a niche can certainly be beneficial if you’re interested in being a tour guide or operator. But there’s no real benefit if you’re applying for a position at an airline.

Do any tourism or travel careers allow you to be fully remote?

Administrative positions within the hospitality and cruise industries allow some workers to be remote. Plus, remote travel agents have become the norm rather than the exception. 

Otherwise, most careers in travel and tourism aren’t remote (it’s pretty hard to fly an airplane from home…for now at least). 

(Looking for the best remote jobs for moms or jobs you can do remotely while traveling? Check out our guides.)

Want the best career in travel and tourism? Become a Fora Advisor

If it wasn’t obvious, our favorite career in travel and tourism is travel planning. And there are a lot of reasons to become a Fora Advisor if this path intrigues you. (Don’t take it from us,: see what our advisors have to say about it.)

If you have a passion for travel and love the idea of making your own schedule, sign up to become a Fora Advisor today.

Still on the fence? Check out more travel advisor resources below:

Is Being a Travel Agent Worth It? Fora Discuses the Pros & Cons  

How Long Does It Take to Become a Travel Agent?  

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Travel Agent? Fora Tells  

How to Become a Travel Agent Online: Fora's Full Guide  

How Do Travel Agents Get Clients? Fora's Top 5 Tips  

Everything You Need to Know about a Fora Travel Advisor Salary (and How Our Advisors Get Paid)  

How to Market Your Travel Business Like a Pro: Tips from the Experts

Are you the go-to person for travel tips?

Transform your passion for travel into your dream job. We'll set you up with everything you need to succeed as a travel advisor. From training to top-notch tech, marketing assets, community, commission tracking & payments (and more), we've got you.

2024 travel trends: what the experts predict

A look at the travel trends and destinations set to drive the tourism industry

• Newsletter sign up Newsletter

The year of 'surprise travel'?

• Lonely Planet's Best in Travel

Set-jetting continues to take off

Music tourism 'accelerates', palate-led holidays and uk getaways, cultural exploration and quaint cities, journeys with 'a sense of purpose'.

• Michelin Guide 'keys'

Fodor's 2024 'No List'

Sign up to The Week's Travel newsletter for destination guides and the latest trends.

'More and more surprise trip companies have popped up' 

"Surprise travel" may become the big trend of 2024, said David Farley on the  BBC . A survey of 27,000 travellers in 33 countries by  Booking.com  found that 52% are "keen" to book a surprise trip where "everything down to the destination is unknown until arrival". In the last decade, "more and more surprise trip companies have popped up", Farley added, and the "element of mystery" is "tempting travellers to seek a new way to see the world".

Mongolia and Nairobi included in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel

Mongolia is tipped as one of the top countries to visit 

In its "Best in Travel" report for 2024, Lonely Planet has predicted the world's top 50 countries, regions, cities, best value and most sustainable destinations. Looking at the top places to "unwind, connect, eat, learn and journey", there's "plenty to pack in" over the next year. Destinations highlighted in the report include Mongolia (country), Western Balkans' Trans Dinarica Cycling Route (region), Nairobi in Kenya (city), Spain (sustainable) and The Midwest, USA (best value).

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The new season of 'Emily in Paris' will inspire travel to the French capital

Travellers turning to their TV sets and movie screens for inspiration "shows no signs of stopping in 2024", said Expedia Group . In its "Unpack '24: The Trends in Travel" survey, more than half of travellers have researched or booked a trip to a destination "after seeing it on a TV show or movie", and one in four admit that TV shows and films "are even more influential on their travel plans than they were before". In fact, travellers say TV shows influence their travel decisions more than Instagram, TikTok and podcasts. 

In its "set-jetting forecast", the group predicts the "entertainment-inspired destinations" tourists will be heading to in 2024. The top picks include Thailand, inspired by "The White Lotus" season three; Romania, inspired by "Wednesday" season two; Malta, inspired by the new "Gladiator 2" film; and Paris, inspired by "Emily in Paris" season four. 

Taylor Swift performs at Lumen Field, Seattle, on the Eras Tour

Travel technology company Amadeus has released its fourth travel trends report. Using the latest data and industry-leading insight, travel in 2024 will be dominated by five trends: music tourism, business class fares unbundled, influencers becoming agents, artificial intelligence matures, and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft prepare for take-off. 

Music tourism is a trend that's expected to "accelerate" in 2024, Amadeus said. After the social isolation of the pandemic, when bands and musical artists were "grounded for months", a "boom" in concerts and festivals in 2023 tapped into "a desire for connection". When Taylor Swift announced her Asia Pacific tour dates for 2024, Amadeus research suggested that Swift's concert dates in Australia, Singapore and Japan had a "significant impact on travel searches and booking volumes to the countries".  

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa in Wiltshire is part of the PoB Hotels collection  

PoB Hotels ' "Cultivating Luxury" market trends report found that palate-led holidays and increased domestic getaways in the UK were among the key findings for 2024. Food and drink "undeniably take centre stage" in "capturing the attention" of domestic travellers, commanding an impressive 82% of their interests. A significant 54% of affluent high net worth individuals (HNWIs) plan to enjoy "three or more" leisure holidays within the UK in the upcoming year, reflecting a "notable increase on the previous 12 months". And a considerable 27% of affluent/HNW travellers anticipate taking UK trips "lasting three or more nights" in the coming year. 

Bydgoszcz in Poland is one of the 'quaint cities' attracting interest  

"Cultural exploration" will "more than ever" be a priority for travellers, Skyscanner said in its 2024 travel trends report. Expect "gig trippers" to jet off to see their favourite artists and "budget bougie foodies" to seek out the very best food experiences. When it comes to the destinations that are whetting would-be tourists' appetites, the metasearch engine and travel agency has seen an increase in searches for "quaint cities" such as Vigo in Spain (+1,235%) and Bydgoszcz in Poland (+313%). Meanwhile, the cost-of-living crisis remains "top of mind" with Skyscanner's "Everywhere" search tool being the "top search destination for travellers globally". 

'Off-grid' Peru is on Black Tomato's 2024 destination hotlist 

The founders of luxury travel company Black Tomato predict that travellers will be looking to journey with "a sense of purpose" in 2024. With ever increasing demands on time, and the desire to make travel truly count, travellers want to create "positive and lasting change" – not only in the destinations they visit, but in their own lives. 

"What we've uncovered," said Black Tomato, is that the feeling a trip ultimately evokes "greatly informs the destination booked". For groups "craving togetherness", journeys which "strengthen bonds and connection" are "prioritised". Black Tomato has picked out "off-grid" Peru, Morocco's Tangiers, the Mitre Peninsula in remotest Argentine Patagonia, and New Zealand's waterways on its 2024 destination hotlist.

The new Michelin Guide 'keys'

Which hotels will get a Michelin key? 

The Michelin Guide will award hotels with "keys" as part of a "new rating system" launching in 2024, said the Visit California PR Pulse Report. The system will be aimed at recognising hotels based on factors including "location, design, service, uniqueness and value". As it does for restaurants, the guide said it intends to independently recommend hotels that "constitute true destinations" and will propose a new selection of more than "5,000 remarkable hotels in 120 countries".

Venice is one of the destinations that has been impacted by overtourism

Most travel experts recommend places to go in their annual reports, but Fodor's has a "No List" of nine regions to "reconsider" in 2024. The travel guide company said it's not a "round-up of spots we revile", it's a "declaration of places we revere". However, the "frenzied admiration", and "incessant need to experience them", are "not sustainable". 

The 2024 No List focuses on three main areas of tourist impact: overtourism, rubbish production, and water quality and sufficiency. For overtourism, Venice in Italy, Athens in Greece, and Mount Fuji in Japan are highlighted. Rubbish production no-gos include San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in California, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, and the Atacama Desert in Chile. While water quality and sufficiency has impacted Lake Superior in North America, the Ganges River in India, and Koh Samui in Thailand.

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This guide provides some examples of best practices of measuring employment in the tourism industries from countries that have demonstrated capacity to develop a comprehensive set of employment indicators.

This publication is a joint project by the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) and UNWTO.

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What Is A ‘Passport Bro’ And What Does This Mean For 2024 Travel?

• Half of Americans find it harder to find love due to dating apps & societal pressure.
• Passport Bros seek foreign women for traditional values due to feminist issues in the West.
• Impact of Passport Bros on the travel industry may lead to economic benefits but also cultural loss.

Finding love feels more impossible than ever. Half of the American population believes that it is more difficult to find a partner than it was 10 years ago . This has to do with there being so many options due to dating apps but also feeling like there are no options when looking at the apps, the fear of putting too much out there when meeting someone new, and societal pressures to find "the one" by a certain age. Dating is exhausting.

With all the effort that goes into dating to potentially not wind up without any prospects for future dates, let alone a real romance blooming, there are some that are choosing to turn the process of dating on its head. These individuals, typically males, have taken the idea of mail order brides and essentially reversed it. Instead of potential partners coming to men, the men go to women, sometimes traveling so much that space on the passport runs out . Those that are participating in this type of dating have been coined "Passport Bros."

While not everyone may agree with the process a Passport Bro goes through to find someone to spend the rest of his life with, it is undeniable that if this style of dating continues, the tourist industry will be impacted, specifically, in areas where travel was not as popular before the trend began.

Here is what a "Passport Bro" is and what it means for 2024 travel.

Unlocking Affordable Freedom: 10 Cheapest Countries To Work Remotely

What is a passport bro, a passport bro is a man from a western country looking for a bride with "traditional values" from another country.

A Passport Bro is a term coined by TikTok. The meaning of Passport Bros is "men who have decided to pursue relationships with foreign women from different cultural backgrounds, often in countries outside their own." Mainly made up of men with US and UK citizenship, Passport Bros state that they are looking for women who follow more "traditional gender roles."

Passport Bros believe that, as a result of "feminist philosophy," finding someone compatible in the Western world is nearly impossible. This is because Passport Bros believe that "Western women exhibit behaviors that are argumentative, confrontational, highly manipulative, and exhibit traits often associated with masculinity."

Additionally, Passport Bros believe "false allegations and a lack of respect for men's perspectives" run rampant in Western countries. Because of this, Passport Bros state they are looking for "peace, appreciation, respect, kindness, and love within relationships, values they feel are increasingly rare in their own cultural context."

This is what has led Passport Bros on their journeys to other countries where they believe they can find women who have "traditional" values as they travel and work remotely in less expensive locations , which they suggest will lead to a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment for all involved.

Why Becoming A Passport Bro Gained Popularity Since The Pandemic

Passport bros gained popularity as the workforce was able to work remotely and globally.

The term Passport Bro and the impact on dating has become more popular since the pandemic . This has to do with the change in the traditional workforce. Instead of employees having to report to the office five days per week to work 40 hours or more, remote working has gained significant traction across many professions. Employees are now able to work anywhere, including foreign countries.

By being able to travel to foreign countries, sometimes where just a passport and not a visa are required , where Passport Bros believe that women have the traditional values they believe are important to a successful relationship, Passport Bros can date said women and see if their values as well as how men are treated in their countries align with what Passport Bros deem to be appropriate.

If this is the case, then there is the option to continue to live in a foreign country. However, the more popular option is to bring these women back to Western countries where there are more opportunities for Passport Bros as well as their future brides.

10 Best Countries For Remote Work, According To The Global Remote Work Index

Dating in this fashion is akin to getting a mail order bride decades ago, except Passport Bros are the ones doing the traveling. Women who want to see more of the world and want to live a lifestyle of tending to the home and children while men go off to work and earn a paycheck even have their eyes out on Passport Bros.

It may be more of a mutually beneficial relationship than it appears to be on the surface. But because the trend is a new one, it is unclear what the success rate will wind up being for Passport Bros and their prospective partners.

How Passport Bros May Affect The Travel Industry

The effects on tourism may not be all positive, despite passport bros going to lesser-developed countries to find a bride.

On the surface, it appears that when Passport Bros bring tourism dollars to countries that are not as financially well off as Western countries, it would help the economy of the country. After all, some Passport Bros are able to come to countries making a salary of $40,000 per year and live like kings, so this spending should be beneficial to the local economy.

While some of the tourism dollars may go to the local economy, much of it may actually be going back to Western countries . This is because Passport Bros are not staying in local hotels and may not be eating in restaurants or going to bars owned by locals. Instead, many of these places are owned by a Western entity. As such, that money never circulates through the country being visited.

​​​​​​​

10 Easiest Countries To Work Remotely From

Further still, when Passport Bros visit foreign countries where the traditional family values are in place with where they believe they should be, it brings a surge of tourists to the area. This intrigues developers from other countries to purchase property in these countries and develop the area into a place for more tourists to come. By doing this, some of the culture of the area is lost to make way for "progress."

It is unclear how Passport Bros will affect the travel industry in the long run. If this is a fad that loses steam in the upcoming years, the tourism industry may not be affected at all. However, if Passport Bros continue to travel the world to look for a spouse in places like Brazil, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic, where the cheapest of holiday destinations can be found in the Caribbean , then tourism in these places will continue to skyrocket. There's also the fact that even $1,000 per month goes very far in many tropical destinations that are on Passport Bros' lists.

If this happens, it will take local entities to build the infrastructure to ensure the tourism dollars stay local. Otherwise, regardless of how many visitors come to the area, profit will not abound and profit will go to those from Western countries instead.

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This is the No. 1 city in the world for remote work—what it's like to live there

April Jereza never intended to move abroad to Madrid, Spain, but now that she's been there for seven years, she thinks she'll stay for the long haul.

Jereza, 30, moved to Spain's capital in 2017 after quitting her finance job in Canada, taking a "huge" pay cut and joining a program where she taught English as a language assistant.

She was immediately taken by how welcoming and energizing Madrid is. "It's just a lively city," she tells CNBC Make It. "There's life on the streets. People are always out drinking a beer after work on the terraces or on a rooftop."

Working professionals take their leisure time seriously, she adds: People typically work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and take an hour for lunch, if not longer. After-work socializing at bars, museums and concerts is common before having dinner at 9 p.m. And, like much of Europe , Spaniards are guaranteed 25 days of paid vacation a year.

"People in Madrid, and Spain in general, really understand that you don't live to work; you work to live," Jereza says.

Other data touts the city's big benefits for professionals: Madrid is the No. 1 best city for remote work, according to a new analysis from Remote.com, a global HR platform for distributed teams.

The platform ranked the top 100 cities for remote work based on factors including quality of life, safety, internet infrastructure and travel, as well as current economic factors, such as inflation and whether it offers a digital nomad visa, which is now available in more than 50 countries.

Here are the top 10 best cities in the world for remote work, according to Remote.com:

• Madrid, Spain
• Madeira, Portugal
• Toronto, Canada
• Auckland, New Zealand
• Tokyo, Japan
• Paris, France
• Portland, Maine, USA
• Taipei, Taiwan
• Stockholm, Sweden
• Reykjavik, Iceland

According to the report, Madrid has low taxes and expat visa options targeted toward freelancers and remote workers. Spain also has its own digital nomad visa for "international teleworkers," and Jereza says its network of cafes and coworking spaces means you can work remotely but still feel connected with others. She now works as a project manager for a multinational social media agency from its Madrid office and works remotely part of the week.

Jereza says Madrid's cost of living is a big factor that improves her quality of life. She earns a bit less today (25,000 euros, or just over $21,000) than she did in Canada but still lives well on a lower salary. For example, her studio apartment costs 600 euros, or roughly $638, a month, and the city's public transit means she doesn't need a car, so she's able to save 900 euros ($958) a month — roughly half her paycheck.

One caveat, she says: "Working remotely in Spain with a U.S. or Canadian salary will get you very far, whereas working in Spain on a Spanish salary, you can feel the pains of inflation a bit more."

Elsewhere around the world, Madeira, the second-best city for remote work, offers "competitive tax rates, generous residency options, coworking and living spaces built with digital nomads in mind, and a burgeoning startup community," according to the report.

Portugal, generally, has become a popular destination for Americans , with the number of foreign residents living in the country having reached an all-time high in recent years.

Rounding out the top 3, Toronto often makes general lists of top cities for safety, quality of life, things to do and economic growth, the Remote analysis notes. The city attracts new residents from around the world: Roughly half of Toronto's residents were born outside Canada.

Conversions from euros to USD were done using the OANDA conversion rate of 1 euro to 1.06 USD on April 15, 2024. All amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.

Want to land your dream job in 2024?  Take  CNBC's new online course How to Ace Your Job Interview  to learn what hiring managers are really looking for, body language techniques, what to say and not to say, and the best way to talk about pay.

Plus, sign up for   CNBC Make It's newsletter  to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.

I've been to 54 countries and have lived in 10. These 5 underrated places are worth the trip.

• Kate Boardman has visited 54 countries around the world and lived in 10, including the US.
• She's enjoyed spots like France and Bali but says people should visit underrated places like Oman.
• In Ecuador, she climbed an active volcano, and in Guatemala, she swam with hammerhead sharks.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kate Boardman , a 36-year-old former teacher and current content creator from Massachusetts who has lived and traveled all over the world. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I first lived abroad when I was 15, when I participated in an exchange program in Germany. I lived there for a year, attending school and staying with a host family.

That was my first exposure to living overseas and truly immersing myself in other cultures. From there, the travel bug hit me hard. It inspired me to study international business in France while I was at university, and future trips after that.

I've been to 54 countries and lived in 10, including the US. The sense of freedom and self-growth that comes from traveling is unbeatable. I also love being able to see the world in a different way.

The most popular destinations are popular for a reason.

Everyone talks about Paris, London , Bali — all travel destinations that are super popular, in part thanks to social media.

I lived in Bali in early 2012 and saw it expand firsthand. There was a lot of construction — with many beach clubs being built — and it became overcrowded by foreigners. It's led to locals being priced out of their homes.

I also think spots like Cancun are super overrated; there are way cooler places to visit in Mexico. Many tourists spend a week in an all-inclusive resort and think that's fun — but that couldn't be more unattractive to me.

Obviously, there's still beauty in places that are oversaturated and famous. But I think that there's an excitement that comes from experiencing places that are off the beaten track.

It's often in those places that you can have the most surprising experiences.

I was treated like family in Iran

I would say my favorite country that I have visited is Iran. I went in 2018 and was there for 10 days.

Normally, when I'm traveling, I backpack alone and stay in hostels as a solo traveler. However, in Iran, if you're American, Canadian, or from the UK, in order to get permission to enter the country, you need a set itinerary and a licensed travel guide.

It was a very coordinated trip and a bit more challenging to visit, but it was so rewarding because I was welcomed with the warmest hospitality.

One of the unique aspects of this trip was how close my guide and I became. He went above and beyond, inviting me over to his family's house for dinner, where I got to meet and hang out with his friends and family. It was truly special.

Because I had a guide, everything was kind of set for me in Iran. He arranged different accommodations, including a road trip through the country, where we stayed in various cities at different guesthouses.

It only cost me around $1,000.

The nature and landscape of Iran are absolutely beautiful and amazing. The sights, attractions, and history are mind-blowing. You've got these gorgeous mosaics everywhere. All of the architecture had my jaw dropping in awe while walking around.

The food is also delicious, and the markets are incredible, each filled with gorgeous textiles, jewelry, turquoise, and rugs.

I would totally visit there again. I hope the political situation changes because that would definitely be one of my group trip destinations. I think it's just incredible.

Georgia took me by surprise

Georgia is just one of those countries that's not on a lot of people's radar. And then they go there and they're like, 'Whoa, that's awesome. Why didn't I know about this before?'

I knew very little about Georgia before I visited in 2018. I spent only five days in the country, but I was completely blown away.

I stayed in Tbilisi, which is the capital city. It's a really beautiful, trendy, and artsy kind of city. It has amazing wine and incredible food.

Probably one of my favorite things about the trip is that I stayed in this hostel called Fabrika . It was an old Soviet Union sewing factory that they turned into a super cool, industrial, hipster hostel.

In Tbilisi, I also went on a pub crawl throughout the Old Town, which featured a bunch of underground cellars and bunkers that have been turned into trendy nightclubs and bars.

During my time in the country, I took a trip out to the countryside to an area called Kazbegi, which is absolutely stunning. There were gorgeous and breathtaking mountains, hills, and massive churches.

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In the city, I also had a Turkish bath, which is a big thing in Georgia. I got a full scrub down.

Guatemala has something for everyone

When most people from the US think about going to Central America, they're focused on Mexico or Costa Rica. Guatemala seems to be a place that kind of gets overlooked.

But life is great in Guatemala.

You've got beautiful weather all year round, the jungle, rainforests, and the Caribbean's white sand beaches, while the Pacific side has its black sand beaches. It's got a little bit of everything.

I first lived in Guatemala in 2021, where I worked as a teacher at an international school. They provided housing in Guatemala City. However, after I finished working for them, I moved to a beach town on the Pacific coast and lived there for about six months.

I've traveled there on other occasions too, staying for periods of four or five months.

The typical salary for a Guatemalan is about $500 a month, with a good salary being $1,000. I would say that $2,000 a month is more than enough to live there extremely comfortably.

There are a lot of digital nomads moving there, especially to Antigua — an old colonial town with a lot of charm, cobblestone streets, and painted buildings.

There's just so much to do in Guatemala; it's so magical.

The biggest must do is hiking the active volcano called Acatenango . Sometimes, you can see it erupting right from its base camp. There's not many places in the world where you can experience that.

Another good place to visit is El Paredon, a super up-and-coming hippie surf town. The surfing is great, and you've got these black volcanic sand beaches. It's just a really laid-back place.

Lake Atitlan is also an incredible spot. It's surrounded by volcanoes and several Mayan villages, each with its own personality and vibe.

Oman's deserts are magical

Oman is in the Middle East, bordering the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. I've been there three times between 2016 and 2018.

The country is culturally rich, and the capital city, Muscat, is really beautiful. It has old traditional marketplaces and gorgeous architecture — the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is definitely worth checking out.

The deserts there are incredible, so doing a desert trip is a must. I camped out in the desert with the locals, rode camels, and drove Jeeps over the sand dunes.

Having tea and watching the sunset in the desert was magical too.

Oman also has wadis, which are basically big canyons in the middle of the desert with swimming holes. There, you'll find bright turquoise water contrasting with the orange rock.

The country's islands are also beautiful and incredible for snorkeling. They look like you'd be in the Caribbean, but you're in the Middle East.

The Galapagos Islands are truly like nowhere else in the world

I visited Ecuador last year for about six weeks. I was leading a gap year program with a group of high school students. We split our time between the Galapagos Islands and the mainland, which consisted of cities and the Amazon.

Because Ecuador has incredibly unique biodiversity that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world, The Galapagos Islands are an absolute must. I've never seen such incredible wildlife in my life; so many species exist only on those islands.

While visiting The Galapagos, my group went snorkeling with 50 to 100 hammerhead and Blacktip sharks. We also swam with sea lions and saw giant tortoises.

Another amazing aspect of Ecuador is learning about the Aztec or Inca culture. My group did a homestay and lived with a family for about 10 days and learned about their way of life.

We experienced how connected they are with Mother Earth, whom they refer to as Pachamama, and learned about their traditional medicine: They grow their own food and seek out plant medicine when they're sick, rather than relying on processed foods.

Learning about and sharing their way of life was truly special.

I want to show people how to travel the world

There are many beliefs people have about different countries and cultures, sometimes considering them too dangerous, expensive, or unattainable.

I want to inspire more people to explore, step out of their comfort zones, and experience more of the world. In the future, I plan on hosting group trips with the goal of bringing people to these countries and showing them why they are so life-changing.

Watch: The true cost of Mexico's Maya Train

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6 Common Leadership Styles — and How to Decide Which to Use When

• Rebecca Knight

Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances call for different approaches.

Research suggests that the most effective leaders adapt their style to different circumstances — be it a change in setting, a shift in organizational dynamics, or a turn in the business cycle. But what if you feel like you’re not equipped to take on a new and different leadership style — let alone more than one? In this article, the author outlines the six leadership styles Daniel Goleman first introduced in his 2000 HBR article, “Leadership That Gets Results,” and explains when to use each one. The good news is that personality is not destiny. Even if you’re naturally introverted or you tend to be driven by data and analysis rather than emotion, you can still learn how to adapt different leadership styles to organize, motivate, and direct your team.

Much has been written about common leadership styles and how to identify the right style for you, whether it’s transactional or transformational, bureaucratic or laissez-faire. But according to Daniel Goleman, a psychologist best known for his work on emotional intelligence, “Being a great leader means recognizing that different circumstances may call for different approaches.”

• RK Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace. Her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.

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8 Best IPL Hair Removal Devices for Long-Lasting Results

Zapping away unwanted stubble and patches in the comfort of your home just got easier.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

"IPL stands for intense pulsed light," explains Dr. Rachel Nazarian, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC. "It works similarly to laser hair removal by targeting the pigment in hair called melanin. The melanin absorbs the light or laser energy, generates heat, and heat destroys the root of hair, preventing hair growth with time."

Because the at-home gadgets are relatively new, we caught up with Dr. Nazarian—along with Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, a board-certified dermatologist in La Jolla, Calif.—to breakdown everything you need to know about the science behind IPL. Here, you'll find the best options on the market based on featured technology, editor feedback, online costumer reviews, and dermatologist recommendations. Shop the best IPL hair removal devices, below.

Tried & True

Smoothskin pure fit intelligent ultrafast ipl.

Ulike Air 10

Best for Coarse Hair

Nood flasher 2.0.

Best for Dark Skin

Iluminage touch permanent hair reduction system.

Best for Travel

Foreo peach 2 go.

Best on Amazon

Braun silk expert pro5 ipl hair removal device.

Best for Full Body

Silk'n 7 light-based hair removal device.

Best Cooling

Jovs ipl hair removal.

T&C' s very own Roxanne Adamiyatt calls SmoothSkin's Pure FIT IPL a " powerful little at-home miracle " because it has 10 power settings, as well as three removal modes and a target precision head, that effectively and gently zaps away unwanted body hair.

"I found myself really amazed at how effective this was almost instantly," she says. "Within a few weeks, I noticed the dark hair on my skin was growing in far more slowly, and more sparsely, all in about the span of a month."

One reviewer writes: "I've previously had professional laser treatment but wanted something to use as a top-up and to get rid of upper lip facial hair. I am so pleased with the results. Don't expect instant changes, it does take around 3 weekly sessions to start seeing any differences. I am reassured too when the lights all light up confirming it's positioned correctly otherwise the lights go red. Works straight out of the box and as far as pain goes there isn't any. A worthwhile investment."

Key Features: 1o power settings, three removal modes, target precision head, skin-safe sensors, UV protection, unlimited flashes

Recommended Usage: 10 minute treatments once a week for 4 months

"I think it’s important to choose well-made and trustworthy devices both for safety and reassurance of efficacy," says Dr. Nazarian. The pro recommends Ulike's new Air 10 (an updated version of the brand's best-selling Air 3 ) because it features dual lights for a faster and effective treatment, salon-exclusive technology suitable for coarser hair types, a skin sensor that auto-adjusts depending on skin tone, and cooling system that protects the skin and prevents burns.

One reviewer says: "It does NOT hurt... I’ve used it about a week now and already notice a huge difference. The cooling feature is by far the most brilliant feature. It’s so easy to use and the sleek design sits in hand comfortably. I love not having to change my light heads to it."

Key Features: Four comfort modes, ice cooling technology, and skin sensor

Recommended Usage : 3x per week for the first month; then once every two weeks or once a month for touch-ups

Coarse hair is no match for Nood's Flasher 2.0, which eliminates unwanted hair without the razor burn or ingrowns caused by traditional removal methods. Bonus points for its mini size, which makes it easy to treat hard to reach areas such as underarms and the bikini line.

One shopper raves: "The Flasher 2.0 by Nood is hands down the best IPL laser hair removal device I've ever used. It's efficient, effective, and makes the whole process of getting rid of unwanted hair a breeze."

Key Features: Seven intensity levels, skin sensor, digital display screen

Recommended Usage: 2x per week for the first two months; then once every 1-2 months as needed for touchup

Most at-home hair removal devices on the market are ineffective on darker skin tones, but the Illuminage Touch is an FDA-cleared system, using both IPL and radio frequency energies, that claims otherwise.

But as Dr. Shirazi notes, "those with darker skin tones should be cautious as there’s higher risk of complications such as burns or hyperpigmentation."

One shopper says: "I am an Indian with African roots and I have thick coarse black hair with a lot of growth... and I've used it only twice but I have seen my growth decrease already, I could go longer without shaving and is so easy to use! It doesn't hurt either, its only a little warm sensation, and the best part is you can do it at your convenience."

Key Features: Three settings, unlimited flashes

Recommended Usage: 1x per for a minimum of six weeks

An IPL device that's tiny, but mighty. A smaller version of Foreo's fan-favorite Peach2 , the Peach 2 Go offers a larger treatment window, faster flash, and built-in skin cooling system to ensure a comfortable experience. Perhaps the best part of all? It's travel-friendly.

One fan of the full-size device reports: "I have been using it for 3 months now. It is very easy to use and the process itself is pretty mush fast, not longer them depilation itself. It can be used on all wanted zones. I noticed that I have less and less hair. Few more treatments and I am ready for the summer."

Key Features: Five intensities, safe skin sensor, built-in cooling system

Recommended Usage: 1x treatment per week for 12 weeks

Amazon shoppers are obsessed with the Braun Silk Expert Pro5 IPL device because treatments are super fast (we're talking just five minutes for both legs) and offers 10 intensity levels with three comfort modes.

One reviewer says: "I’ve had this hair removing device since 2020... Thanks to this device I am hair free from the knees down, bikini area and armpits. I have fair skin and darkish hair. Since I’ve gotten rid of all the hair I wanted, I now only use it for touch ups. I no longer follow a schedule, just do it whenever I see random little hairs showing up every few months."

Key Features: 10 intensity levels, three comfort modes, skin tone sensor

Recommended Usage: 1x per week for 12 weeks; then monthly for touchups

The newly launched Silk'n 7 boasts neat technology, such as optical and galvanic energy for a more effective treatment, a rotatable head for hard to reach areas, and three additional attachments for precision.

One shopper says: "You can start seeing results from week 4, I highly recommend."

Key Features: Rotatable head, optical and galvanic energy, three different head attachments, five energy levels

Recommended Usage: 1x per week for a minimum of six weeks

An IPL device with an adequate cooling mechanism to reduce risk of burns is a must. JOVS version features 37F sapphire ice cooling technology that makes the hair removal process practically painless and comfortable to use on in sensitive areas.

One shopper says: "So quick and easy to use. You don't need to wait between flashes for the device to recharge like with some of the others, the face is also bigger and therefore covers more skin surface area. The fact you can turn the head is huge... I used it 3 or 4 times a week for like a month. After just a few treatments I noticed not as much hair growing back."

Key Features: Rotating head, cooling technology, six modes and levels

Recommended Usage: 3x per week to start

.css-1q42gf4{color:#030929;font-family:NewParis,NewParis-fallback,NewParis-roboto,NewParis-local,Georgia,Times,serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.625rem;margin-top:1.875rem;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1q42gf4{font-size:1.875rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-1q42gf4{font-size:2.625rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1q42gf4{font-size:2.625rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1q42gf4{font-size:3.125rem;line-height:1.1;}}.css-1q42gf4 b,.css-1q42gf4 strong{font-family:inherit;font-weight:bold;}.css-1q42gf4 em,.css-1q42gf4 i{font-style:italic;font-family:inherit;} What is the difference between IPL and laser hair removal?

"Lasers use a beam of coherent light that’s absorbed by melanin in the hair follicles, whereas IPL uses a broad spectrum of light wavelengths instead of a concentrated single wavelength of focused light beam," explains Dr. Shirazi. "In both cases, the absorbed light energy by the hair follicle, converts to heat, thereby damaging the follicle. In general, laser hair removal is more powerful and more effective than IPL for permanent hair reduction, but it also hurts more as a result."

Dr. Nazarian also notes that IPL is best for lighter skin tones and darker hair colors: "There was a great paper published a few years ago that highlighted the successful approach of home IPL in achieving permanent hair removal and conveniently offering a safe option for many people."

Do IPL devices remove hair permanently?

According to Dr. Shirazi, IPL lasers "significantly reduce hair growth, but they typically don’t result in permanent hair removal."

Dr. Nazarian adds, "most at-home devices require consistent use up-front, and then infrequent use for maintenance, much like in-office lasers, but they are quite effective."

Are at-home IPL devices safe?

"IPL devices don’t work on all skin tones," says Dr. Nazarian. "Because they typically work by using a wavelength that is absorbed by melanin, the ideal candidate for these types of hair removal would have very light skin, and very dark hair, ensuring that their hair is what absorbs the majority of the light or laser energy."

For those with more melanin and darker skin, "it’s best to avoid or first do a test spot before treating a larger area of skin," says Dr. Shirazi, adding that "it will not work on light hair colors, such as blond, white, gray, or even red hair as there’s no melanin or target for the light so it doesn’t see it to remove it."

Furthermore, Dr. Shirazi adds, "it’s important to wear eye protection and be sure to look for safety features such as skin tone sensors, adjustable intensity setting, and tip cooling mechanisms."

Here are more of Dr. Shirazi's do's and don'ts:

• Do a test spot first.
• Do not expose the treated area to sun light for at least seven days.
• Do not use if you have a tan or very dark skin as it could cause a burn.
• Do not use on skin that’s open, tattooed, or has moles, warts, or birthmarks.

Meet the experts

• Dr. Rachel Nazarian, MD., F.A.A.D. , is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC and an expert for Ulike , award winning, at-home IPL hair removal device.
• Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, MD , is a board-certified dermatologist in La Jolla, Calif. who specializes in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.

Why trust Town & Country?

For more than 170 years, Town & Country has been the trusted source for influence, taste, elegant living, and the finest things in life. We cover everything from the latest and greatest in beauty to luxury travel to the buzziest fashion trends of the season. All of our stories are thoroughly researched, tested, and vetted by T&C editors and industry experts.

Sophie Dweck is the associate shopping editor for Town & Country, where she covers beauty, fashion, home and décor, and more. 

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