Tourism is diverse!
The current political situation in Germany fills us, as tourism professionals, with dread. Together with our association members, we want to send a clear message: Tourism is diverse!
The tourism industry embodies openness to the world and intercultural exchange. In addition to providing an important opportunity for relaxation, this industry facilitates contact and intercultural exchange between people from different countries. Every year, approximately 68 million people from abroad visit Germany. Conversely, Germans take about 65 million vacation trips abroad each year.
The tourism industry is a major economic driver, directly supporting 2.8 million jobs and accounting for approximately 4% of our country’s gross value added. It makes a significant contribution to Germany’s prosperity. However, Germany now faces the challenge of filling countless job vacancies —the gaps in the tourism sector are already massive. By 2036, 13 million people will leave the German labor market, but only 8.4 million will enter it. This means that by then, Germany will be short nearly four million employees subject to social insurance contributions. As things stand today, this amounts to one in ten employees subject to social insurance contributions. Consequently, countless positions will remain unfilled.
There is a lot of discussion about immigration. Unfortunately, this is mostly in a negative context. However, in light of the labor shortage, immigration is an important and effective way to recruit workers. It is essential that Germany remain attractive to immigrants, as we face strong international competition in this area. Current statistics from the Federal Employment Agency for December 2023 show that the year-over-year increase in employment subject to social insurance contributions is attributable solely to people with an immigrant background. Their number has risen by 308,000, or 6%, to 5.48 million. These people make an enormous contribution to German society and the economy.
Yet, despite this, there are still too many negative voices. The claim that only the German social welfare system is being exploited has, unfortunately, already become firmly entrenched in many people’s minds. But that is not true. The tourism sector is an outstanding example of the success of immigration, as many workers in this industry are immigrants. Their work helps ensure that the tourism industry functions at all.
Almost any company could get involved. Here, we share stories of successful immigration in the tourism industry:
