Resumen de Tourism Education's Roles in Sustainable Tourism Development: a Case Study of SIDS Introduction

Aishath Shakeela, Noreen Breakey, Lisa Ruhanen

• The tourism industry makes a significant contribution to the development of many Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In spite of this, often in these island states tourism education is neglected in the wider national development plan. This paper presents the key education findings from a broader study on tourism education and local employment as contributors to the sustainable development of the SIDS case of the Maldives. The research findings showed that tourism education was a crucial factor for employability, yet at the same time, tourism education does not meet local employment needs.