Tourism has been one of the main drivers of the Dominican economy in recent years, especially in the eastern part of the country, where the hotel industry generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs. However, despite the increasing efforts to train the next generation of professionals, there is still a shortfall of more than 20,000 trained employees in the hospitality sector. This is due to the lack of quality education programmes aimed at young people, as well as lack of training on specific technical skills, including English language proficiency and the social skills necessary for a career in tourism. At the same time, economic disparities further widen the gap in educational achievement. Students from lower-income backgrounds tend to have significantly lower academic performance and higher dropout rates. The situation is even more difficult for young females, who face the risk of exploitation, and for young mothers who do not have access to childcare and can’t enter the workforce as they are bringing up their children.  

The TUI Academy Dominican Republic is addressing these disparities by supporting the education and employability of young people in the province of Alta Gracia. The project supports 200 young people (aged 18-29 years old) from 40 disadvantaged communities in the region. The students (60% of whom are female) are offered a vocational training course which is complemented with English language classes focused on tourism terminology, and life skills modules on personal development, job readiness and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). 

The training is designed to ensure the students are qualified and ready for a competitive job market. It includes the opportunity to do an internship in the hotel sector where they receive on the job training and are also coached in personal progression and development. On successful completion of the training, students receive an official qualification. At least 50% of the students of the TUI Academy find a job and start their careers in the tourism industry within six months after graduating.

A unique component of this project is the incorporation of early childhood care in the training curriculum for 25 young women, with a focus on the hotel industry. The project expands employment opportunities for young people by formalising and promoting child-care services within the hotel industry, ensuring that roles in this area are acknowledged as a legitimate career path with professional training and certification. At the same time, it offers the opportunity to young students of the TUI Academy to attend training courses without worrying about the safety of their children​. 

In addition, 280 people from local communities benefit from support services, such as workshops on positive parenting, gender-responsive and youth-friendly training, SRHR and decent work principles​

The TUI Academy Dominican Republic runs until June 2029 and is one of the eleven TUI Academies currently running worldwide.