The tourism industry is happy with the bookings for the summer, but about 35,000 workers are still missing in Austria for the peak season
It kind of depends on who you ask: the hoteliers association says there are currently 20,000 vacancies in the industry, and that in the “low season”. Only about 15,000 jobs are registered with the AMS, but there are other platforms as well.
Lack of staff is the biggest problem
But there is no doubt that the lack of staff is now the biggest problem in the hospitality and hotel industry. State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler of Tourism estimates that around 35,000 additional employees will be needed during the high season.
The guests are coming back, there is a lot to catch up on after the pandemic. But many workers who migrated to other industries during the lockdown are no longer coming. Even higher wages cannot change that. “We’re looking across Europe, so everything has to be released,” said WKO president Robert Seeber, who wants to end restrictions on non-EU citizens. Meanwhile, the lack of staff has become a European problem.
China is expected less
According to a survey by the Austrian advertising agency, we will see more guests from Southern Europe, the Netherlands and the Arab world again in the summer. In the previous year, 82% of holidaymakers came from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Less is expected with Eastern Europe and China. An increase to 2021 should be possible. In the pre-Corona summer, the minus was 19%.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
