Austria‑Greece Tourism Cooperation Targets Workforce and Sustainable Growth

Austrian tourism State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner met Greek tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni in Salzburg during the Salzburg Festival to deepen bilateral cooperation. The talks focused on securing seasonal labour for Austria’s winter tourism, with plans to recruit roughly 2,000 Greek workers for the 2025/26 season. Both governments will launch a digital recruitment platform linking job seekers, employers and public employment services, building on the EU’s EURES network. Pilot projects with Greece and Cyprus are scheduled for summer and autumn, and a dedicated recruitment event will be organised in Greece.

The partnership also aims to exchange sector expertise: Greece could benefit from Austria’s experience in mountain tourism, while Austria seeks insights on agrotourism, barrier‑free tourism and sustainable destination development. Zehetner highlighted the need for year‑round tourism to provide planning security, stable jobs and added regional value, stressing that “tourism is a people‑business” and that a faster, less bureaucratic approach is essential.

Chancellor Christian Stocker and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who were present as guests, endorsed the initiative, noting that Austria’s tourism training is internationally recognised and that reciprocal exchanges of staff could further strengthen both markets.