Tourism summit in Marling: Solutions for the shortage of skilled workers and bureaucracy!

Tourism summit in Marling: Solutions for the shortage of skilled workers and bureaucracy!

On May 29, 2025, the annual meeting of the German-speaking hotel and catering industry associations took place in Marling. Representatives from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol came together to discuss pressing challenges facing the industry. The discussions focused on topics such as the labor shortage, the employment of non-EU citizens as well as the housing situation in tourist regions and the reduction of bureaucracy.

The tense situation on the labor market was particularly highlighted. The demand for workers is constantly increasing while the supply is limited. Therefore, the participants emphasized the need for clear normative frameworks for host companies and employees in order to meet these challenges.

Lack of housing and reduction in bureaucracy

A central problem is the lack of housing in mountain areas. The increase in single households and short-term tourist rentals are contributing to the aggravation of the situation. The discussion also included calls for clear legal rules to curb the rental of housing for tourists. This could be necessary to ensure the quality of life of local residents and to adequately accommodate the local workforce.

In addition, models for accommodating employees were discussed, which are intended to relieve the burden on the local housing market. The desire to reduce bureaucracy was clearly expressed, with national participation processes being called for to identify bureaucratic hurdles. The digitalization of administrative processes was seen as a way to streamline procedures.

The association representatives present also appealed to European institutions not to create additional bureaucracy, as excessive regulations such as packaging regulations or the revised EU package travel directive place additional strain on the industry.

Outlook for the future and culinary accompaniment

The South Tyrolean state government has called for concrete proposals to reduce bureaucracy by July 31, 2025. This initiative could be a positive step towards a relieved industry. The next meeting of the associations is planned for June 2026 in Austria and will therefore offer a platform for renewed discussions about the challenges facing the hotel and catering industry.

The meeting concluded with a culinary accompaniment by star chef Herbert Hintner at Castel Fahlburg in Prissian. Among the guests were HGV President Manfred Pinzger, Senator Dieter Steger and State Councilor Luis Walcher.

For further information about the challenges of labor shortages and possible solutions, please refer to the IFO report, which comprehensively examines the topic: IFO reports on the shortage of skilled workers.

For more details about the association meeting and their discussions, read the article daily newspaper.