The overall goal of the project was to enhance green skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes among working-age adults and students in tourism, supporting sustainable social, economic, and environmental outcomes. The ESSEFT project aimed to address the green skills mismatch among tourism and hospitality employees, particularly in the hotel sector, and to facilitate job transitions. Students in tourism were also targeted to improve their green skills for better school-to-work transitions. These goals were pursued through several objectives: (1) researching green skills mismatches in the tourism labor market; (2) engaging professionals from profit organizations to share expertise with both employees and students; (3) integrating university teaching tools to foster innovation in vocational education; (4) developing digitally available curricula and a learning platform focused on labor market needs; (5) producing digital learning materials with zero paper usage; (6) delivering short-cycle sustainable tourism courses with certification; and (7) making policy recommendations based on project findings.
As part of the shift towards nature conservation, many tourist destinations and visitors became increasingly aware of tourism’s impact on the environment. Strengthened environmental awareness led to a demand for less conventional destinations, prioritizing nature reserves with clear environmental policies over crowded tourist spots. As a result, tourist locations adopted eco-friendly practices, and more visitors evaluated the sustainability of hotels and holiday destinations. This movement favored local culture, rural areas, and preserved nature reserves over mass tourism. In line with consumer preferences, green skills became essential for tourism and hospitality employees. According to the EU Commission Skills Panorama (2015), environmental awareness included knowledge and abilities to minimize human impact. The hotel industry particularly demanded such skills, integrating green practices. The ESSEFT project addressed skills mismatches by developing three-month courses for tourism professionals and students, aligning education with labor market needs. These courses, while not part of formal curricula, provided certificates to enhance employability.