Will undergraduate students pursue a career in the tourism and hospitality industry in the post-COVID-19 era?

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted employment within the tourism and hospitality industry. Students have witnessed employment instability during the pandemic, thus shaping their attitudes toward their careers and perceived job security risks in the post-pandemic era. This study therefore explored the key factors influencing the students' attitudes and intentions toward pursuing a career in the tourism and hospitality industry in Thailand. Data collected from 394 participants were analyzed, and the results underscore the significant role of internship experience in enhancing students' motivation to work in the industry while reducing their perceived job insecurity. The results also indicate that career attitudes were influenced by motivation and perceived job insecurity but not by internship experience. Furthermore, students were likely to pursue a tourism and hospitality career when they possessed positive career attitudes and perceived lower job insecurity. The study highlights the mediating role of career attitude in linking motivation and the intention to pursue a career. These results provide insights for guiding the formulation of strategies to enhance undergraduate students' career perceptions and intentions to pursue a career, contributing to filling job vacancies, sustaining business performances, and supporting the recovery of the tourism and hospitality industry in the post-COVID-19 era.