India’s tourism sector bouncing back with increase in job search

As the country gradually resumes regular activities, the tourism sector has experienced a positive trend in hiring and job searches, as indicated by a report from the job-search website Indeed. Although the outlook for job postings in tourism roles remains negative, there has been a slight improvement, with a 58% decline in September compared to a 69% decline in May, according to the report.

The hospitality and tourism sector faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, witnessing a 49% decrease in job postings between March and August 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The Indeed report highlights that overall job postings in August 2020 were down by 56% compared to 2019, accompanied by a 44% decline in job searches for these roles and a 45% decrease in job searches during the same period.

Despite the overall decline in job postings, there has been a notable increase in job searches for tourism-related roles, showing a 30% surge between May and August 2020. This growth occurred even as job postings in the sector experienced a 21% decrease during the same period, according to the report.

Sashi Kumar, Managing Director of Indeed India, emphasized the importance of the tourism sector, which contributes significantly to the nation’s economy with one in every eight jobs in India being related to tourism, either directly or indirectly. Kumar highlighted the need for sustainable solutions to address the challenges faced by the sector, expressing optimism about the government’s measures ensuring both public safety and economic well-being, creating an ideal environment to address and overcome challenges in the tourism industry for long-term growth.