Two years after the start of the pandemic, Southern Africa’s travel and tourism industry is seeing positive signs of recovery as people are starting to fly and travel – but the industry is also feeling the effects of the ‘brain drain’ caused by the pandemic. Travel and tourism companies now need to attract the right and train them in order to replenish skills in the industry.
“Many people in the industry were forced to seek alternate employment within other industries as a matter of survival. Businesses are trying to rebuild and employ again, but in many cases the skills are not available - those who have left are hesitant to return, or have found other opportunities that they don’t want to leave,” explains Kim Botti, Director of national recruitment company, Lee Botti & Associates.
“In addition, the challenges and frustrations of handling travel bookings, re-bookings, refunds and complicated ever-changing pandemic requirements for each country have made working in travel less attractive,” she adds.
The bottom line is that an industry that had massive appeal before is now not offering the excitement that previously attracted people.
This, along with a great number of people leaving South Africa for employment in other countries, has resulted in a big loss of skills and talents - the ‘brain drain’. The impact has been at every level within the industry.
“At the same time, as businesses become busier and the employed staff are under immense pressure, there is little time and few resources to train incoming recruits – a much-needed resource that companies will require,” Botti stresses. “The challenge for the industry is to attract the talent to return and ensure training is provided to rebuild this necessary sector to the South African economy.”
