Preparing Generation Alpha tourism educators faculty for the future: Bridging the gap between academia and industry practices to mitigate risks in the classroom and beyond

Tourism teachers should link what students learn in school to real-life scenarios, which helps future tourism experts build the skills they need. This study assesses the essential skills, knowledge, and teaching approaches that match what the industry needs that is ready for the students to work in the evolving tourism and hospitality sector. The study conducted a descriptive survey involving 50 educators and industry professionals from the Philippines to find out the main difficulties and positive aspects of teaching tourism. The results showed that working closely with industry, using new technologies, and focusing on practical learning are important for dealing with old teaching materials and the lack of real-world experience. The study also recommends changing the curriculum and teacher training so that educators who teach tourism are better prepared to teach Generation Alpha.