AT least 35,000 jobs will be created in the North West's expanding tourist industry over the next six years.
Tourist leaders, however, are warning that there are not enough skilled staff to fill the vacancies.
In an effort to ensure suitably-qualified people are available, the North West Tourism Skills and Employment Network has been launched.
Jean Llewellyn, regional manager for the project, which has been established by the North West and Cumbria Tourists Boards and the North West Development Agency, said: "We are making sure that, by acting now, we don't get to the situation where, in a few years' time, there won't be enough people to match the jobs on offer."
The Skills and Employment Network will work to improve communication between employers and education and make sure the needs of the tourist industry are met by training and skills development programmes.
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