Tour4Youth project concluded – boosting youth employment with concrete results
The international Tour4Youth project has come to an end, and its results show that youth employment in the tourism sector can be strengthened through determined cooperation. Implemented during 2022–2025 together with several international partners, the aim of Tour4Youth was to support young people in finding pathways to working life and to help tourism industry actors connect with new talents.
Over the three years, the project developed new tools, organized events, and built forms of cooperation that have delivered concrete results.
Key achievements:
- 120 young people (target 100), including 45 from Finland, completed the career management online course developed in the project. The course provides job-seeking skills and competences applicable to the tourism sector.
- 77 young people completed a traineeship (target 40), of which 73 were local and 4 international. In Finland, a total of 21 traineeships were carried out (18 local and 3 international), with an average duration of seven weeks.
- 102 organisations registered to offer traineeship positions.
- Recruitment and matchmaking events in Finland engaged over 570 young participants (target 160). At the international level, 75 young people took part (target 60).
- At least 19 young people have found paid employment during the project in Finland.
Events brought young people and employers together
Tour4Youth took part in numerous events where young people and employers were able to meet in new ways. For example, International Food Day and RekryBoost 2025, as well as the online event Online Job Days gathered hundreds of participants, giving young people the chance to practice job-seeking, network, and learn about career opportunities in the tourism sector. In addition, the project organized introductory days and company visits for young participants aged 15–24, mainly students from the tourism and hospitality fields.
Online course available for everyone
One of the project’s lasting outputs is a 5-credit online course, which is openly accessible at https://samkmoodle.samk.fi/enrol/index.php?id=527. The course will also be added to the Opin.fi platform, making it widely available for use in higher education studies.
Wide-ranging communication and visibility
Tour4Youth has been actively visible across different channels: the project website has attracted over 6,500 visits and features not only general project information but also trainees’ experiences, as well as stories from employers and project staff. The project’s Facebook page has around 300 followers, and social media has been an important way to reach both young people and stakeholders. On project´s website www.tour4youth.eu, stakeholders can also access the project’s guide for completing the course and a handbook designed for all parties involved in traineeships.
Collaboration delivered the results
During the project, young people were reached through many different channels – schools, study counselors, representatives of employment services, NGOs, and various events. Thanks to this collaboration, new pathways into the tourism sector were opened for young people, while employers gained visibility and new employees. The online course received highly positive feedback, and the majority of traineeships went smoothly, offering young people valuable opportunities and experiences.
The overall message of Tour4Youth is clear: when young people are supported together and given opportunities, new routes into working life are created. Based on discussions and practical experience, the need for support is particularly significant among international students in finding their first traineeship or job. A new project starting on 1 October 2025 will continue to address these needs, focusing on highlighting diversity and responding to employers’ recruitment demands.