Tourism fights for specialists: new quotas are not enough!

Tourism fights for specialists: new quotas are not enough!

A critical situation is emerging in Austrian tourism: Today, a draft to increase the quota contingent was presented by Federal Minister Kocher. The contingent is to be raised to a total of 4,985 people, which is considered a positive step to ensure workers in tourism. Robert Seeber, chairman of the WKÖ federal division tourism and leisure industry, emphasizes that this is an important signal for the industry. According to OTS , the quota has already been increased by over 3,700 places, which the growing demand in the sector underline.

, however, the real increase is behind expectations, because with a new contingent of only 4,295 for 2024, which only makes up for about 2 % of employees in the area of ​​gastronomy and accommodation, the existing need of over 20,000 specialists is far from covered. Seeber has practiced sharp criticism of this decision because the tourism industry, depend on personal presence, is seriously restricted by bureaucracy and inadequate workers. According to the information from wko have so far been reported to 9,901 and the real discussions about the need for the need to open the labor market and the cancellation of quotas are Layed.

urgent need for action

The industry calls for a suspension of the quotas and a release of the labor market for third -country nationals, as long as the need cannot be satisfied. Many companies are forced to limit their offers, which also increases the pressure on the regular workforce. "It is unstoppable tourism, as a central support of our economy, to hinder restrictive labor market measures," warns Seeber.