Harz is fighting against a shortage of skilled workers: Foreigners ensure tourism success!

Harz is fighting against a shortage of skilled workers: Foreigners ensure tourism success!

In the Harz, the popular highland area of ​​northern Germany, the tourism infrastructure is severely affected by an acute labor shortage in the hospitality industry. Every year the region attracts thousands of holidaymakers and hikers, but how news38.de reported that many hotels and restaurants are having difficulty finding sufficient local workers.

The challenges in the catering industry are diverse. Not only seasonal workers are offered, but also skilled workers such as chefs. According to a survey by the German Press Agency, the proportion of foreign workers in the catering and hotel industries is higher than in other sectors, which underlines the need to attract international employees. After all, around 10,000 workers are needed in the Lower Saxony hospitality industry to meet demand n-ag.de supplemented.

A look at the Harz

The Harz itself extends over parts of Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia and covers an area of ​​2,226 square kilometers. Not only is it diverse from a geological point of view, but it also impresses with its breathtaking nature. Every year the region attracts around 1.3 million visitors to the Brocken, the highest peak at 1,141.1 meters.

The tourist attraction of the Harz has a long history and is supported, among other things, by its well-preserved flora and fauna. The region offers a variety of hiking trails and leisure opportunities, which are well served by the Harz narrow-gauge railways. Nevertheless, the high pressure of visitors brings challenges.

Challenges for the hospitality industry

How news38.de As stated, it is often difficult for companies to retain foreign workers in the long term. Many people are drawn to the big cities, where the opportunities are more diverse. The labor shortage is becoming increasingly noticeable in the tourism industry. On the East Frisian Islands, for example, according to reports, every second member of the hospitality staff comes from abroad.

The origin of the workforce is diverse and includes countries such as Romania, Poland, Ukraine and Vietnam. Recruitment is influenced by the existing community and the tourist season. While EU citizens can work relatively easily, non-EU citizens have to meet numerous conditions. This includes an employment contract, language skills and longer-term visa procedures, which often take several months. This represents a major obstacle, especially when it comes to opening businesses on time during peak seasons.

In order to counteract the shortage of skilled workers, the state government has launched initiatives to recruit workers from Morocco. A partnership was concluded with the Moroccan region of Tangier, meaning that the first Moroccan trainees have already arrived in the hospitality industry in the Harz region. Such measures could potentially improve the situation on the labor market.

The challenges remain great, but through targeted recruitment and support, the Harz may be able to exploit its full tourism potential again.