Tourism in Austria: Why the contingents system has to be reformed!

Tourism in Austria: Why the contingents system has to be reformed!

In Austria, the tourism industry faces a critical challenge: The planned increase in the Sailing quotas by 490 to a total of 4985, announced by Economics Minister Dr. Martin Kocher and Tourism State Secretary Mag. Susanne Kraus-Winkler, encounters massive criticism. Walter Veit, President of the Austrian Hoteling Association, made a decisive statement in a statement against the time of this increase, which is supposed to come into force on January 1: "Nobody really understands that!" In view of a current number of 14,602, the industry is faced with an pressing lack of staff. Veit calls for a reform of the current quota system, which in his opinion is no longer up to date and harms Austrian tourism, as Oehv.at reports.

The criticism not only aims at the number of quotas, but also to the comprehensive need to reform the labor market. Veit emphasizes that a needs -based opening of the labor market is essential. In the context of the stakeholder summit, he explains that the challenges in the tourism sector should not be viewed in isolation. "Everyone is sitting in the same boat, every industry is worried," said Veit. With regard to the economic importance of tourism, he emphasizes that this contributed more than 10 billion euros to the Austrian current account in 2019. A targeted approach to improving working conditions could be crucial here.

the need for a comprehensive reform

"Contingents do not help, just harm," Veit is quoted. The increase in the defeats could further press the lid on an already problematic system. In January 2024, 15,550 places were vacant in tourism, which means significant economic losses. Veit therefore clearly speaks for the abolition of contingent upper limits, because it is already being checked in individual cases whether suitable applicants from domestic or the EU are available before third-country members are considered. In addition, it is suggested that a regulation for the Western Balkans to integrate the workforce there better, such as ots.at . A departure in a sustainable labor market strategy could not only revitalize the tourism industry, but also benefit the entire Austrian economy.