Greece Aims to Address Tourism Education and Labor Market Challenges

The Greek government is addressing the dual challenge of enhancing tourism education and meeting the labor demands of the sector.

Greek ministers on Thursday discussed fostering public-private partnerships (PPPs) for tourism education and strengthening vocational training, which will help Greece maintain its competitive edge in global tourism.

Upgrading tourism education

Speaking at the annual conference of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni highlighted the potential for collaboration between the state and private sector to enhance tourism education infrastructure. This could include upgrading existing institutions or establishing new tourism schools through PPPs.

Minister Kefalogianni outlined that the core focus of the ministry’s strategy is to strengthen the human resources within Greece’s tourism sector.

“We aim to provide incentives and opportunities, particularly for young people, to pursue a career in tourism, while simultaneously improving the quality of services offered in the industry,” she stated. “With regard to tourism education, I would like to plant the idea of potential cooperation between the state and the private sector, through PPPs, for the establishment of new tourism schools.”

While Kefalogianni did not provide further specifics, the idea of collaboration between the public and private sectors to advance tourism education is seen as a crucial step toward building a more skilled workforce.

The modernization and upgrading of tourism education in Greece has long been a pressing need. In the past, SETE proposed transforming one of the existing schools into an internationally recognized institution, offering courses in English and operating under the confederation’s supervision. However, the initiative did not move forward. Industry professionals have repeatedly stressed the importance of establishing tourism schools with international prestige, especially given Greece’s status as a global tourism hub.

Tourism labor market and employment initiatives

During the same conference, Greek Minister of Labor and Social Security, Niki Kerameus, addressed the unique challenges facing the tourism sector’s labor market. She underlined that the ministry is actively working to meet the sector’s demand for skilled workers by improving access to education and employment opportunities.

Kerameus said that the government is heavily investing in vocational education, skills development, and training programs to address labor shortages in the tourism industry.

“Recently, seven new pilot apprenticeship schools have been established in cities such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Heraklion, Mytilene, and Rhodes,” she said. “These schools offer a combination of theoretical education and hands-on training in key tourism areas, such as cooking, catering, and customer service in hotel units.”

According to the minister, the establishment of these schools aligns with the broader goal of supporting young people who aspire to build careers in Greece’s dynamic tourism sector.

Additionally, she mentioned that the ministry is working on tools, such as Career Days, to help match the growing demand for labor with available job opportunities.

Kerameus also highlighted positive labor market developments, including a 21 percent increase in the average wages of tourism employees over the past five years as well as a 23 percent growth in sector-related jobs.

In addition, the minister said that Greece’s Digital Work Card is expected to be fully implemented in the tourism sector by March 2025.

Established under Greece’s Labor Protection Law (Law 4808/2021), the initiative aims to promote transparency and improve the efficient management of working hours.

The card is currently being piloted in the tourism industry, with adjustments being made before its full rollout.