Tourism: Austria wants to bring more staff from Greece

The topic of the labor market is a focus of the discussions. In the previous year, around 2,000 people from Greece were employed in accommodation and catering in Austria. Here Zehetner is striving for closer cooperation between the labor market services and better use of the European one EURES network to. “Tourism is a people business,” said Zehetner, according to a press release. “Without committed employees, there is no good hospitality and no successful tourism location. The competition for skilled workers is therefore becoming one of the central European questions for the future.”

Austria wants to recruit skilled workers for the coming winter

About a new digital switching system Labor market service Applicants, companies and labor market services should be networked. The first pilot projects with Greece and Cyprus are already planned for summer and autumn. Furthermore, a recruitment event is being prepared in Greece to recruit skilled workers for the winter season to win in 2025/26. “Austrian companies are looking for qualified employees, while people in other member states are looking for good employment opportunities,” noted Zehetner. “Politics must bring these two sides together more quickly and less bureaucratically.”

During the discussions on the occasion of a joint visit to the Salzburg Festival It is also about, among other things, the extension of the season, the acceptance of tourism in the regions and topics such as sustainability, digitalization and infrastructure. “Year-round tourism means more planning security for companies, more stable jobs and more added value in the regions,” said Zehetner. “It’s not about having more and more guests everywhere. It’s about intelligently developing offers, extending seasons and making better use of existing infrastructure.”

The two countries should learn from each other through cooperation

Greece could benefit from the Austrian experiences Mountain tourismbut also benefit from the development of year-round offers, tourism infrastructure and sustainable mobility, the Ministry of Economic Affairs also announced. However, when it comes to agritourism, gastronomy, barrier-free tourism and regional observatories for sustainable tourism development, Austria can learn from Greece.

“Many key tourism issues can no longer be solved nationally,” emphasized the State Secretary. “Skilled workers, sustainability, digitalization and acceptance in destinations are European tasks. Austria will continue to play an active role in this and push forward concrete solutions together with strong partners like Greece.”