Critical labour shortages in the Nepalese tourism and hospitality sector: Strategic implications

Author Identifier

Kerry Brown: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9209-8046

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Title

The Future of Work in the Asia Pacific: Addressing Critical Skills Shortages for Sustainable Development

First Page

204

Last Page

219

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

School

School of Business and Law

RAS ID

76311

Comments

Dhakal, S. P., & Brown, K. (2024). Critical labour shortages in the Nepalese tourism and hospitality sector: Strategic implications. In The future of work in the Asia Pacific (pp. 204-219). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003379065-16

Abstract

The tourism and hospitality sector (THS) is playing a catalytic role in developing economies to achieve the United Nations' 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), forming part of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. SDG #8, which promotes decent work/productive employment, provides an appropriate lens to advance a critical understanding of the contribution of THS in countries like Nepal. The country is an interesting case for two reasons. First, Nepal is recovering from several major crises in the past two decades, namely the 1996-2006 armed conflict, the 2015 Earthquake, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, Nepal relies heavily on tourism, contributing 7.5% to the GDP and accounting for one in eight direct jobs before the pandemic. However, despite labour being one of Nepal's main exports, critical labour shortages (CLS) are experienced within the THS. This contradiction between exporting labour and facing labour shortages in Nepal has received little attention in the context of reviving the THS in a post-pandemic era. This chapter responds to this gap and analyses stakeholders' perspectives using online media reports. Based on the findings that overcoming the CLS will be challenging due to the limited employment opportunities, inadequate education and training, and increasing outbound migration, the chapter ends with a discussion on strategic implications as a way forward in the context of SDG #8.

DOI

10.4324/9781003379065-16

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