The Norwegian recipe for sufficient human resources at hotels - The PASYXE initiative

While the tourism industry in Cyprus is on an overall positive course, with 2024 even recording a record in terms of both arrivals and revenues, the country's hotel sector continues to suffer from a problem that has plagued other sectors of economic activity over time, and which is none other than that of finding suitable and sufficient human resources.

Indicative of the size of the problem, as well as the efforts that hoteliers are making to address it, were the reports on this matter by the President of the Cyprus Hotel Association (PASYXE), Thanos Michaelides, who, speaking from the podium of the Association's 1 June annual general meeting, spoke about an issue of major importance. And, noting that in 2024, some 49,592 people were directly employed in the sector, he underlined that the difficulties in finding suitable and sufficient human resources remain.

In this light, hoteliers, and especially PASYXE, are not content with simply identifying the problem, but as is evident from what Michaelides mentioned, they are taking specific steps aimed at alleviating it.

The discussion recently initiated by the Association, in collaboration with the Cyprus Human Resources Development Authority (HRDA), on the creation and utilisation of training programs in professions in the hotel industry is also included in this framework.

The purpose of this specific initiative is the reintegration into the labour market, specifically into the hotel sector, of people aged 55-65, with all the positive outcomes that, as Thanos Michaelides pointed out, their activation can bring, both for the economy and for society as a whole.

As the President of PASYXE explained, this is an initiative that follows the example of Norway, which, through the Integration Act, precisely promotes the integration of workers aged 55-65 in the hotel industry, mainly in areas such as customer service and administrative positions.

In this way, as Thanos Michaelides pointed out, human resources are strengthened with experience and quality characteristics, while at the same time offering these people the opportunity for a second career in a dynamically evolving sector.

The Norwegian example, it should be noted, was also highlighted by Michaelides as a possible approach within the context of broader efforts to address the problem in its entirety.

As he described, the rapid growth of tourism in the country in question revealed serious gaps in specialised personnel, as young people avoided related professions, considering them precarious.

In view of this, those responsible had to convince both young people and their parents that the sector offers prospects, by updating promotional messages to this end, highlighting leading figures in the field and creating modern education and training programmes.

In the whole equation, ensuring prospects and professional stability is set as a key parametre for encouraging young people to invest in studies and skills in the tourism industry.

This is something that, as the President of PASYXE emphasised, entails a reduction in seasonality in the labour market, strengthening trade, increasing public revenues and continuous investment in education.

Proposal for staff accommodation

It is worth noting that at the same time, PASYXE is also moving towards finding a solution for another perennial problem facing the hotel sector, which concerns staff housing.

As Thanos Michaelides revealed in this regard, the Association intends to submit a specific proposal for discussion to the Ministry of Interior, which concerns the licensing of the construction of housing units for the staff of hotel businesses.

"The implementation of this proposal offers a substantial solution to a perennial problem faced by the hotel sector in relation to staff housing, while at the same time contributing to the decongestion of the rental market in tourist areas, with a positive impact on society and the economy more broadly," the President of PASYXE said.

(Source: InBusinessNews)