Abstract
This paper explores the critical nexus between education and tourism employment, examining the theoretical perspectives and the outcomes of empirical research as well. It analyzes related literature to identify key challenges and opportunities, focusing on the disconnect between academic curricula and industry requirements, the prevalence of low-skilled, precarious jobs in the sector, and the need for stronger collaboration between educational institutions, the tourism industry, and policymakers. The paper proposes a multi-faceted approach to enhance alignment between education and employment, recommending that educational institutions modernize curricula with practical and industry-relevant approaches, the tourism industry actively participate in shaping tourism education, and policymakers implement policies that incentivize stronger partnerships and resource allocation for program modernization. By addressing these challenges and implementing the recommendations, stakeholders can collaboratively bridge the gap between education and tourism employment, ensuring a skilled and adaptable workforce that contributes to the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the tourism sector.