This positive trend stems primarily from developments in vocational education, which saw a 2.5% increase in enrollment, while higher education experienced a 2.9% decline. Vocational education continues to play a central role in training the sector’s workforce, accounting for 21,469 students, equivalent to 70.6% of the total number of students enrolled in tourism programs. Although it maintains a dominant position, its share has been gradually declining over the past decade as a result of the relative growth of higher education, whose share rose from 22.5% in 2017 to 29.4% in 2025.
The number of graduates from tourism programs reached 18,911 students in 2025, reflecting a 4.6% increase over the previous year. Of this total, 17,151 graduates came from vocational education, while 1,760 graduates completed programs in higher education.
This trend highlights the growing importance of vocational training in meeting the labor needs of the tourism sector, which accounts for more than 90% of graduates in this field.
In higher education, tourism programs had 8,945 enrolled students in 2025, 267 fewer than the previous year. Recent trends confirm a decline in demand observed following the post-pandemic recovery period.
The Tourism program remains the top choice among students, with 2,716 enrolled, followed by Hotel Management (709 students) and Hotel Administration and Management (381 students).
Geographically, the North and Greater Lisbon regions account for the bulk of the demand, together representing more than half of the students enrolled in higher education tourism programs.
In vocational education, courses related to the hospitality and restaurant industry continue to see the highest demand. In 2025, the following courses stood out:
• Culinary Arts/Pastry: 6,470 students;
• Tourism: 4,808 students;
• Restaurant/Bar: 4,159 students;
• Environmental and Rural Tourism: 928 students;
• Tourism Information and Entertainment: 871 students.
These results demonstrate the strong link between the training programs offered and the operational needs of companies in the sector, particularly in the accommodation, food service, and tourism entertainment segments.
The range of tourism training programs has been expanding over the past few years. In 2025, there were 28 professional tourism programs in operation in the country, up from the 20 programs recorded in 2016. At the same time, the total number of tourism courses across different levels of education reached 123, highlighting the education system’s ability to respond to evolving market needs and the new skills required by the sector.
The 2025 data reveal a resilient tourism training system, supported by the dynamism of vocational education and the maintenance of a diverse range of training programs. Although demand in higher education continues to face challenges, the increase in the number of graduates and the recovery in overall enrollment suggest a continued ability to meet the qualification needs of the national tourism sector.
