Tourism in the Digital Age: Preparing the Workforce for a Sustainable Future

In the general framework of the country's economic development, tourism has a significant importance. This is also because Albania offers potential maritime, mountainous tourists, etc. In these conditions, the need to advance the development of this economic sector becomes present. Determining the way of functioning, the evisceration of development problems posed by the tourism sector, the connection of mutual influences with other phenomena, etc., as environmental conservation and innovative developments should be preceded by study work. In recent decades, there has been an increase in the field of digital development, which has enabled the fundamental transformation of the way business is done in many areas of the economy. Digital developments are applications that have given a different meaning and perspective to the tourism and hospitality industry as one of the most impactful areas of this development. This study investigates the digital abilities that are most in-demand in Albanian tourism. The present spread of these abilities among workers in tourism-related businesses, including hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and travel agencies, is examined. Significant gaps exist between the digital capabilities of the workforce now and the digital skills that will be required in the future, according to quantitative study that includes surveys. ICT enables innovative and advanced digital solutions that have improved and revolutionized tourism products and services by increasing the productivity of tourist businesses on the one hand and empowering and consolidating the sustainability of the tourism sector on the other. Both of these directions require that the workforce of this sector possesses competencies and digital skills.