Identifying the Opportunities and Challenges of Employing of the Individuals Seeking Addiction Treatment in the Tourism Industry

The aim of this study was to identify the challenges and opportunities of employing people seeking addiction treatment in the tourism industry.

The present study was qualitative and based on a phenomenological approach. The statistical population of the study included the individuals seeking addiction treatment and the employers in the tourism industry in Fars province, from which 22 individuals were selected using the snowball sampling and applying the technique of data saturation. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data.

The results show that the challenges in recruiting individuals seeking addiction treatment included two organizational and extra-organizational, four individual, interpersonal, administrative and institutional main themes and seventeen sub-themes. In addition, opportunities in hiring these individuals included two organizational and extra-organizational dimensions, 2 major themes including opportunities related to human resource management and social competitive opportunities, and 8 subthemes.

Having a job and a profession is one of the most important factors that prevent travelers from returning to substances and addiction. If a society wants to combat this social problem, it should not only recognize the challenges and opportunities in this area, but also appropriately provide employment and jobs for those recovering from addiction.