With its fine sandy beaches, 3000 hours of sunshine per year and temperate climate blown in by maritime trade winds, Senegal is a biodiversity-rich country that has experienced a steady increase in the number of international tourists it welcomes. But more than seven out of ten people in the country still live below the poverty line and securing work is not easy. However, with 55% of the 18 million population aged below 20, providing opportunities for young people to climb out of this situation is the key to helping resolve this.

The tourism industry provides a unique opportunity for economic empowerment and uplift. In 2018 (UNWTO sources), Senegal generated 471.63 million euros in the tourism sector alone, representing 6% of Senegal's GDP and nearly 100,000 jobs. Tourism also helps urban regeneration and rural development and can reduce regional imbalances by giving communities the means to ensure their prosperity locally.

To capitalise on this potential, the TUI Academy Senegal has been setup together with Critérium THR. It provides free, professional training in hospitality for young people in the tourism-dominant Petite Cote region, around the cities of Saly and Mbour.

By 2027, 251 young people from the area will graduate from one of the Academy’s five different courses: Cooking & Baking, Restaurant & Bar service, Housekeeping, Reception and Tour guiding.

Each course involves five months in a classroom setting with an additional three-month internship at one of the local hotels or restaurants partnering with the programme.

A partnership with a local institute specialising in IT education has also been established to help TUI Academy trainees become more tech savvy and use the latest technologies in their respective fields of work. At the end of their internship, the TUI Academy graduates receive a certified diploma that allows them to rapidly integrate the job market.