Bridging the Gap: Assessing Skills, Training, and Competencies for Curriculum Development in Sustainable Tourism

Tourism plays a critical role in Kenya's economy, contributing approximately 7.9% to the national GDP and supporting around 1.6 million jobs. However, the sector faces mounting challenges including environmental degradation, sociocultural disruptions, and the impacts of climate change, necessitating a shift toward sustainable tourism practices. Despite the growing global emphasis on sustainability, there remains a significant gap in the knowledge and skills required by tourism professionals in Kenya to align with international sustainability standards. This study aimed to bridge this gap by: (1) identifying the knowledge and skill deficits among tourism professionals; (2) evaluating the extent to which sustainability principles are integrated into current training programs; (3) outlining essential competencies for sustainable tourism; and (4) assessing the effectiveness of current training methods in developing these competencies. A qualitative, descriptive survey design was employed. A purposive sample of 120 respondents was drawn from a target population of 171 professionals across diverse tourism sub-sectors using Yamane’s formula to ensure broad representation. Data collection involved curriculum reviews, policy document analysis, semi-structured questionnaires, and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, and qualitative data were thematically examined using NVivo. Cronbach’s Alpha (≥ 0.7) confirmed instrument reliability. Findings indicated underrepresentation of frontline actors such as tour guides (8.3%) and community tourism leaders (3.3%) in training programs, while educators comprised the majority (55%). Regression analysis (B = 0.451, p = 0.019), correlation (r = 0.632, p