Stop Replacing Employees Who Leave — Start Fixing Why They’re Leaving in the First Place

Rethinking Retention in the Tourism Industry

The tourism industry is known for breathtaking experiences — but behind the scenes, it's often a revolving door of talent. We've become far too comfortable replacing employees who leave, instead of fixing the root causes that make them want to leave in the first place.

In an industry where service is everything, losing trained staff means losing consistency, quality and sometimes customers. Yet, rather than asking "why are they leaving?", we rush to the next hire, repeating the cycle.

Why Are Tourism Employees Leaving?

High turnover isn't new in tourism. But it's no longer just a side effect of seasonality. Deeper issues are at play:

• Lack of growth opportunities.
• Poor work-life balance.
• Low pay vs high emotional labor.
• Outdated leadership styles.
• Cultural misalignment, especially with younger staff.

Understanding the Generations in Your Workforce

Tourism teams now include Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z — each with unique expectations:

• Gen Z wants purpose, flexibility and mental health support. They leave quickly when those are missing.
• Millennials value development, autonomy and ethical leadership. They stick around when their values align.
• Gen X looks for stability and recognition. Many feel stuck in middle management, underappreciated.
• Boomers are loyal but tired. Without support, burnout or disengagement kicks in.

What Can We Do Instead?

Rather than constantly recruiting, tourism companies need to retain and re-engage their existing workforce:

Listen to exit interviews and act.
Create career pathways.
Offer flexible schedules and livable wages.
Build inclusive, feedback-friendly cultures.
Train managers on emotional intelligence and generational needs.
Align your company mission with employee values (especially around sustainability and social impact).

Retention Is the Real Growth Strategy

Tourism isn't just about places — it's about people. Retaining employees means better experience for travelers, stronger teams and more resilient businesses.

So instead of replacing your people, ask why they're leaving. And fix that.