The TUI Care Foundation has launched the next phase of the TUI Academy Dominican Republic, in partnership with Plan International.
After almost 10 years successfully implementing the programme in the Dominican Republic, this four-year initiative will now run in more than 40 communities across seven districts of Altagracia province, until 2029.
The programme provides students (60% of whom are female) vocational training along with English language classes focused on hospitality. This is complemented by extensive life skills education emphasising career planning, job readiness, and violence prevention strategies. Participants then complete internships in partner hotels, gaining valuable hands-on experience that enhances their employability and facilitates job placement.
In the Dominican Republic’s eastern region, tourism is the primary economic driver, yet many young people face significant barriers to accessing employment opportunities in the sector. Despite increasing efforts to train the next generation of tourism professionals, there is still a shortfall of more than 20,000 trained employees in the hospitality industry. This is due to lack of quality education programmes particularly for young disadvantaged people coming from vulnerable backgrounds who could be absorbed by the sector. In addition, there is lack of training on specific technical skills, including English language proficiency, as well as the social skills necessary for a career in tourism.
A unique component of the project is the incorporation of early childhood care in the training curriculum, with a focus on the hotel industry. The project expands employment opportunities for young people by formalising and promoting child-care services within the hotel industry, ensuring that roles in this area are acknowledged as a legitimate career path with professional training and certification. At the same time, it provides childcare services to young TUI Academy students, offering them the opportunity to attend training courses without worrying about the safety of their children. In addition, parents, caregivers and other local community members will benefit from workshops on positive parenting, gender-responsive and youth-friendly training, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and decent work principles.
Through partnerships with the national vocational training institute INFOTEP, the Ministry of Labour, and hotels in the region, the project ensures sustainable outcomes. The initiative aligns with the Dominican Republic’s National Care Policy, supporting the government’s efforts to formalise care services and create new employment pathways.
2026 marks the 10-year anniversary of an ongoing collaboration between the TUI Care Foundation and Plan International that has supported over 600 young people in completing technical and professional training, and more than 400 to undertake internships in hotels, improving their access to decent jobs.
The project is part of the global TUI Academy Programme, which offers vocational education and career opportunities to young people from vulnerable communities in tourism destinations around the world.
