Is there no one left residing in the Harz region?
In the scenic Harz region of Lower Saxony, foreign workers have become an integral part of the tourism industry, filling a significant labor gap among locals. According to the Ministry of Economics in Hannover, these foreign workers significantly contribute to the success of tourism in the region.
The process of recruiting these workers varies depending on their nationality. EU citizens can move and work freely within the European Union, while those from other countries require entry visas and other requirements. The lengthy procedures involved can cause delays in business openings, particularly at the start of the season.
The Harz region, with its stunning landscapes and popular tourist attractions, attracts thousands of tourists and hikers each year. Along the North Sea coast, foreign workers are indispensable for the hospitality industry during the holiday season. In the East Frisian islands, about every second employee in the hospitality industry in 2024 was from abroad.
A survey by the German Press Agency among tourism organisations shows that the share of foreign workers in the catering and hotel industry is higher than in other sectors. Many businesses in the hospitality industry, such as hotels and restaurants, are relying on foreign employees due to a labor shortage.
However, retaining foreign workers long-term can be challenging in the Harz region, as many are drawn to larger cities. On the East Frisian islands, there are now the first Moroccan trainees in the hospitality industry. The majority of foreign tourism employees along the North Sea coast come from Eastern European countries such as Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria.
The demand for seasonal workers is high on the coast due to a traditionally strong summer season, while in Hannover, the conference business plays a major role throughout the year, requiring skilled workers at all times. In the Lüneburg Heath, the recruitment of foreign workers has been successful in isolated cases but is rarely sustainable.
Businesses in the Harz region are not just looking for seasonal workers as service staff, but also for skilled workers like chefs. An interesting anecdote comes from a family on vacation in the Harz who were surprised when they looked into their garden to find foreign workers tending to their property.
The state government supports businesses in recruiting workers from Morocco, with a partnership established at the beginning of the year for cross-industry labor migration, not just for tourism. Despite the challenges, the importance of foreign workers in the tourism industry in Lower Saxony cannot be overstated.
