As part of the Erasmus+ BET – Alliance for Skills, Sustainability, and Innovation in Emerging Tourism Types project, an in-depth qualitative study was conducted with members of the Croatian Expert Review Board (ERB).
Between April and May 2026, individual interviews were conducted in collaboration with the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management (FTHM), providing valuable insights into the current and future needs of the Croatian tourism labour market.
The discussions focused on key challenges and opportunities related to:
🔹 skills gaps and changing labour market needs
🔹 the green and digital transition in tourism
🔹 emerging and evolving occupational profiles
🔹 the alignment of higher education curricula with future competence needs
🔹 innovative learning approaches, including MOOCs, VOOCs and micro-credentials
🔹 the competences required for emerging tourism types
Particular attention was given to the potential development of new occupational profiles, including the Regenerative Tourism Manager, Metaverse Tourism Specialist and Sustainable Science Tourism Consultant.
The expert perspectives provided valuable qualitative evidence, complementing the quantitative research findings and contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of workforce transformation and the future skills needed in Croatian tourism.