The project takes place in the Phang Nga province, next to Phuket province. Both provinces are high-risk areas for child exploitation in the labour market. So the programme also provides age-appropriate life skills training to 150 children aged between 5-17, to strengthen their self-esteem and reduce their vulnerability to exploitative situations.

The first TUI Academy Thailand graduates celebrated their success with a graduation ceremony in March and 14 students are now ready to advance their career in the tourism industry. Their hard work and dedication has strengthened their resilience and capacity with a TUI Academy certificate on the CV, they are better equipped to enter the job market.

As part of the multi-stakeholder collaboration, participants from tourism business, NGOs and local government will also participate in workshops and conferences to ensure that due diligence processes are implemented to protect children and young people from sexual exploitation within the tourism industry, including the online risks to children.

The TUI Academy in Thailand is part of TUI Care Foundation’s Enabling Education Initiative and offers vocational education and sustainable career opportunities to young people from vulnerable communities. With a combination of theoretical education and life skills coaching, the programme focusses on the potential of tourism as an established driver of global job creation and growth. The TUI Academy Thailand is one of the eight academies currently running worldwide.