Tourism vocational education: Relations of input and output

This study examines the contribution of vocational education (VE) inputs of career-related interest and self-attributes of attitude, skills, and knowledge (ASK) to career-related decision outputs using the lens of Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT). Data from 407 tourism students were analysed by structural equation modelling. Positive attitude is related significantly to resilience. Self-efficacy of relevant skills is related significantly to lifelong career choice. Students' interest in tourism is the strongest predictor of lifelong career choice amidst the unfavourite industry environment of Covid-19. Vocational education institutions should differentiate provisions of specific educational inputs for specific outputs to fulfil societal demands.