Enhancing Employability and Resilience of Seychellois Youth through Tourism-Centered Education and Training Programs: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines Seychelles’ reliance on tourism and the challenges of youth unemployment (~25%) and skills mismatches, which limit labour market integration and resilience. This study evaluates how tourism-centred education and training programs improve employability and resilience among Seychellois youth across four dimensions: curriculum alignment with industry demands, integration of digital and entrepreneurial competencies, effectiveness of practical training, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, studies published between 2017 and 2025 were searched across Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, regional repositories and relevant gray literature. Two independent reviewers screened and selected studies using predefined criteria. Data extraction focused on intervention characteristics and outcome measures related to employability and resilience, and quality appraisal was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute and the CASP checklists. The evidence synthesis was narrative and contextualised within Seychelles socioeconomic framework. Preliminary findings suggest a fragmented collaboration among educational institutions, industry, and government, which limits curriculum updates and responsiveness to market demands. Practical training is insufficient, with approximately 30% of tourism students accessing structured internships or hands-on experiences. Informal apprenticeships in family-owned tourism businesses show potential but lack formal integration. Gaps persist in digital and entrepreneurial training, which impedes innovation and microenterprise development. The review highlights the need for formalised apprenticeships, expanded experiential learning, digital competencies, and institutionalised multi-stakeholder governance to bridge the education–employment divide and support inclusive and sustainable tourism development in Seychelles.