Hospitality and Tourism Higher Education in the Post-COVID Era: Is It Time to Change?

ABSTRACT Although we have entered the new normal created by the COVID-19 crisis, few studies have offered guidance for the future of hospitality and tourism education. This study attempts to fill this gap by adopting two theories – curriculum theory and stakeholder theory. Thirty participants, consisting of hospitality and tourism students, faculty members, and industry professionals, were interviewed in focus groups. The results demonstrate curricula with a heavy emphasis on technology (artificial intelligence, virtual reality, or big data), marketing, culture/diversity, safety/crisis management, and entrepreneurship; and soft competencies focusing on creativity, self-confidence/positivity, self-care/wellness, critical thinking, leadership and teamwork. Many of these hard and soft skills reflect a greater need for new innovative business ideas and safety/health concerns in the post-COVID era. We hope these results serve as a foundation for educators and other stakeholders involved in setting plans and strategies for hospitality and tourism education in the years to come.