Pepa Torres Martínez

Director of Training and Employment

C/ Sebastián Herrera Nº 15

28012 Madrid

Tel.: 91 5068888

Graduated in Law at the University of Alcalá de Henares in 1987.
Master in Business Management and Administration at the Autonomous University of Madrid in 1988.
Since 1995, she works in Fundación Once, holding different positions, she currently occupies the post of Director of Training and Employment.
Previously, she worked in different social areas in the Madrid City Council.

1.1. Abstract

Spain is the second most visited country by foreign tourists. All employees in the tourism sector amounted to 2.5 million people in 2006 and accounted for 18% of wage earners in the area of services and 11% of workers across Spain, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE) . So far this year, the number of employees has increased the number of employees by 6% over the same period of 2006, according to the latest data of March from the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade (MITYC). These data lead us to conclude that this is an industry that offers a significant growth of employment and, therefore, a possibility of employment for certain groups.

Besides, in recent years, two “qualitative” important things are happening, first the geographical diversification of supply, which allows a more intense growth of tourism in the autonomous regions without tradition, and secondly that international tourism is no longer seasonal tourism.

The tourism industry sector that has offered more jobs in recent years has been catering, with 38% of the total. It is followed by hotel industry which employs 16% of employees, followed by the rest of activities – travel agencies, transport, car rental, leisure, culture, etc. which corresponds to 45%.
To take advantage of employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and achieve a higher level of work integration of this group in this sector, it is necessary to deepen in the knowledge of the labour market. The factors to be valued are the following ones:

-Sector analysis:

  • Description of the industry: industry generating jobs, widespread personnel deficit, trends.
  • Structure of employment by occupation
  • Occupational prospective.
  • Employment situation of people with disabilities in the industry.
  • Perception of employers to recruit people with disabilities

-Analysis of the job requirements: to identify the capabilities required, working conditions, etc

  • Occupation analysis.
  • Professional and graphic profile

-Identification of training needs.

With all this information, some specific action plans will be articulated, which will permit, individually and based on specific needs, to respond adequately to the needs of the staff and it will also allow people with disabilities to take advantage of those opportunities.

ENAT Tourism for All International Congress, Marina D’Or 2007