Seasonal Quotas in Domestic Tourism Increased

The quotas for seasonal workers from third countries will be increased to 5,500 per year. During peak times, these may be exceeded by up to 50 percent, as long as the annual average is maintained. Additionally, there is a new quota of 2,500 workers from five Western Balkan countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Albania is not included.

Higher Seasonal Quotas as a Short-Term Solution for Domestic Tourism

Tourism is "an economic locomotive, especially in economically challenging times," said Tourism State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner (ÖVP) after the Council of Ministers. However, for tourism businesses to realize their potential, they need sufficient skilled workers. NEOS State Secretary Josef Schellhorn spoke of an "enormous step" also in view of the current unemployment figures. The corresponding regulation is to be issued in September. The early announcement will create better planning for tourism businesses for the winter season, said Schellhorn.

State Secretary Michaela Schmidt (SPÖ) emphasized that the expansion of the seasonal quotas is a short-term and temporary solution, which is to be evaluated at the beginning of 2027. In the medium and long term, the goal is to bring more domestic workers into tourism. This is to be achieved with a tourism employment fund to support measures for the recruitment and retention of employees from Austria and EU/EEC countries.

Government Promotes Recruitment and Retention of Domestic Employees in Tourism

Annually, starting in 2025, 6.5 million euros in budget funds will be provided, for example, for qualification measures and special support in the event of work accidents or unemployment. The fund is located at the Ministry of Labor, which is also to set the funding requirements in a funding guideline. An evaluation is to be conducted after three years. The goal is to improve working conditions, said Schmidt: "For tourism to thrive, the employees in tourism must also be well off."

While the Chamber of Commerce welcomed the increase in seasonal quotas, citing 12,500 unfilled positions in domestic tourism, there was criticism from the union. "Without a significant improvement in working conditions, the labor market in tourism remains a bottomless pit that is attempted to be filled with a constant supply of cheap, easily exploitable workers. Sustainable measures look different," judged vida Chairman Roman Hebenstreit. However, he considered the tourism employment fund a "partial success." The FPÖ also criticized this as an "alibi measure." By increasing the seasonal quotas, the shortage of skilled workers is not being sustainably addressed, "but wage dumping is only further opened up," said Social Spokeswoman Dagmar Belakowitsch.

(APA/Red)

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