In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, European countries are suffering from a severe labor shortage in the tourism sector. For this reason, it is moving towards Türkiye to attract the workers needed to work in this vital sector. European companies are trying to attract students and graduates of tourism schools in Turkey with attractive offers.
Current challenges
According to Ebro Echeghen, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at Akdeniz University, Some 1.7 million people have quit their jobs in Europe ‘s tourism industry, and only 570,000 of them have returned. Echigen said that European countries need 1.2 million employees to fill this gap.
In a related context, Echigen confirmed that European companies are contacting them to inquire about their students and graduates, Especially after the pandemic. She noted that in previous years, Students and graduates who wanted to work abroad were facing many problems. But today, Contact us tourism companies in Europe.
Challenges of Turkish tourism
On the other hand, Ecigin expressed her concern that the Turkish tourism sector will lose skilled workers. In this context, She said: “The best way for Turkey to retain trained workers is to extend the tourism season to 12 months and improve working conditions.”
Economic development of Turkey
Turkey is a major player in the global tourism industry. According to Culture Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Türkiye ranked fourth in the world in terms of the number of visitors in 2022, It reached 51.4 million visitors. Ersoy said that the country has increased tourism revenues from $12.4 billion in 2002 to $46.5 billion in 2022, It ranks seventh globally in terms of tourism revenues.
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, the number of workers in travel agencies and tour companies in Turkey reached about 84,000 people in September, with an increase of 4.7% compared to the same month last year.
Economic engagement
In the accommodation and food services sector, the number of employees reached approximately 1.3 million, an increase of approximately 4.7% compared to the same month last year. The data showed that the accommodation sector alone employed nearly 450,000 people, indicating a 5.9% year-on-year increase.
Europe faces employment challenges in the tourism industry, It sees Turkey as an ideal partner to bridge this gap. It is clear that Türkiye Thanks to its economic approach and continuous development in the tourism sector, It remains attractive to businesses and workers alike.
