Timur Kebekov, Deputy Director of Kavkaz.RF, discusses the tourism industry's HR challenges and prospects.

Timur Kebekov, Deputy Director of Kavkaz.RF, spoke on RBC TV South about the current talent situation in the tourism industry and the key trends shaping its development.

During the interview, the expert outlined the growing shortage of specialists in the tourism industry, touched on the issue of wage imbalances, and emphasized the inevitability of digitalization in the industry and the importance of professionals in the new environment.

According to Timur Kebekov, tourism today is a promising area for training: the demand for new talent is growing annually, despite the development of automation and the introduction of artificial intelligence technologies.

Among the key requirements of employers, the expert identified three components of a sought-after specialist:

a well-established set of professional competencies—while companies often further train graduates according to their own standards and workflows;

Developed soft skills—the ability to handle emergency situations, customer-centricity, empathy, conflict resolution, and the ability to anticipate guest expectations;

Digital literacy—proficiency in booking systems, online ticketing systems, and mobile apps.

Thus, a combination of high-quality education, emotional intelligence, and digital skills today constitutes the basic minimum for a successful start and sustainable career development in the tourism industry.