Ensuring the $52.9 billion NSW visitor economy continues to fulfil its potential in the years ahead was the focus of a panel event at the 2024 NSW Visitor Economy Forum.

Panellists included Service & Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) CEO Natalie Turmine, TAFE NSW Executive Director Creative and Services Skills Cluster Raf Marcellino​, Seek Senior Account Manager Michelle Hayes​ and Get Skilled Access Co-CEO Zack Alcott​.

Discussion focused on strategies for growing the visitor economy workforce pipeline, how to access, engage and retain workers, where businesses can seek out new workers and how to prepare for onboarding appropriately skilled workers.​

Future-proofing businesses

Ms Turmine explored the challenges around filling ‘surge workforce’ positions to tackle critical shortages in the industry.

Ms Hayes gave insight into the tools SEEK offers for businesses recruiting staff, including AI and research insights. She also spoke about what employees are seeking outside role specifics and how to communicate benefits that can help with retaining staff.

From a skills perspective, Mr Marcellino spoke about how businesses can future-proof by keeping up to date with trends and evolving roles.

Mr Alcott shared insights into how businesses can adapt their workforces to be more inclusive of Australians with disabilities, particularly around removing bias and identifying the value that a diverse workforce can provide.

Bringing skilled workers to the forefront of the visitor economy

According to recent forecasting conducted by BDA, the number of jobs in the NSW visitor economy is expected to grow from nearly 300,000 to almost 450,000 by 2035.

To address a major skills shortage across Sydney and regional NSW, TAFE NSW is partnering with Destination NSW to develop and deliver training programs jointly funded by the Australian Government’s NSW Choose Tourism Program.

The subsidised courses are designed to address industry workforce shortages by encouraging Australians to pursue a career in the visitor economy, helping operators to attract, retain and upskill staff.

The new training programs include:

  • An ‘Introduction to the Visitor Economy’ microskill: a short self-directed online course, designed to provide foundational knowledge and explore careers in the visitor economy industry. The microskill will be offered free to the public for the first six weeks of release, with fully subsidised access available for NSW high school students.
  • Five one-hour video masterclasses: fully subsidised pre-recorded masterclasses will be available on the TAFE NSW website, featuring industry experts such as Scenic World, Cupitt’s Estate, Merlin Entertainments, Sydney Opera House, and W Hotels.
  • Modernised Certificate III in Tourism: set for delivery in 2025, this updated qualification will include new visitor economy skills. Updates will also incorporate contemporary case studies and assessments based on industry feedback to ensure the qualification meets the current needs of the sector.

The ‘Introduction to Visitor Economy’ microskill is launching today and masterclasses will be available from late October 2024. To find out more, visit tafensw.edu.au/visitoreconomy.