Prague's tourism industry is facing a major employee shortage

Chefs, cleaners, and caterers are in short supply in the Czech hospitality industry

Katrina Modrá

Written by Katrina Modrá Published on 30.11.2018 08:26:52 (updated on 30.11.2018) Reading time: 1 minute

The Czech Republic is the third-most-visited country in Europe with the number of foreign visitors rising: as of September, the country has welcomed some eight million foreign tourists, five percent more than last year, reports the daily Metro.

While tourism can be a boon to the economy — in the Czech Republic it creates three percent of the GDP and employs around a quarter of a million people — Viliam Sivek President of the Czech Tourism Forum (FCR) says the influx of foreign visitors is almost more than the industry can handle.

“We expect either small growth or stagnation,” he told the publication.

The continued viability of the tourism industry will rely on workers to staff positions in the hospitality and tourism fields; Sivek cites a tragic lack of workforce including chefs, maid, cleaners, and guides, and other positions that can’t be replaced by automation.

And it’s not just hotels in the capital that are feeling the crunch. Insiders say that in a number of Czech destinations, especially in the mountains and border regions, owners of smaller guesthouses and restaurants are being forced to shutter their businesses due to lack of staff.

For those who’ve longed to make a jump into the tourism industry, now may be the time to make a move.

Martin Plachý, Vice President of the Association of Healing Spas, says that workers from abroad would be welcome.

“Tourism is sure to welcome a new workforce from abroad,” he says, adding, “There are a lot of new employees needed in the catering industry.”

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