A CBRE Research report says India's tourism industry could face a shortage of around 11 million workers by 2035 as demand for skilled professionals rises.
October 2, 2026: India’s tourism industry could face a shortage of around 11 million workers by 2035, according to a CBRE Research report cited by The Economic Times.
What is driving the gap?
The report points to the difficulty of keeping the supply of trained workers aligned with the expansion of hotels and newer tourism segments. Skills gaps, employee retention and limited training capacity are among the issues identified.
The challenge is particularly relevant for India’s tier-II and tier-III cities, where tourism and hospitality infrastructure is expanding but access to specialised training may not always keep pace.
Why it matters for travellers and businesses
A shortage of trained workers can affect the ability of hotels, travel operators and other tourism businesses to scale consistently. For travellers, workforce capacity can influence service quality and the ability of destinations to handle rising visitor volumes.
What could happen next
Training programmes, vocational education, workforce retention initiatives and stronger links between tourism companies and educational institutions are likely to become increasingly important as the sector expands.
Source: The Economic Times, October 2, 2026, reporting on CBRE Research.
