*By Dr. Charalambos Giusbasoglou, Professor at Bournemouth University
The Greek tourism industry is currently experiencing one of the most successful periods in its history. In recent years, Greek Tourism has been setting records for arrivals, tourist receipts and investments, and the country is now among the strongest tourist destinations in Europe. According to the data presented in the new research report Fair Work and Employment Conditions in the Greek Tourism and Hospitality Sector, Tourism and Hospitality now contribute more than 20% of Greek GDP and total employment, confirming that it is the most critical productive pillar of the Greek economy. The contribution of the sector is not only economic but also social, as in many areas of the country (especially on island and regional destinations) Tourism is almost the only source of income and professional activity.
However, behind the fictional image of growth and investment, a very different reality emerges when it comes to work. The research, which is based on a nationwide sample of tourism and hospitality workers, records with particular clarity that the Greek tourism “miracle” continues to be based on a work model of intense flexibility, seasonality and high precariousness. Although in some companies, mainly larger in size or chains, clear improvements are observed in terms of personnel management and professionalism, the overall picture remains deeply contradictory. The research reveals that two different worlds of work coexist in Greek tourism: on the one hand, there are companies that offer a decent working environment, organized procedures and basic job stability, while on the other, a large proportion of workers experience daily exhausting hours, undeclared or semi-declared work, job insecurity, low wages and often abusive behaviors.
The particularly worrying element of the study is that many of these conditions now seem to have become normalized. Workers do not describe pressures, burnout or job insecurity as temporary distortions of the system, but as a “normal” part of working in tourism. This very normalization of precariousness is perhaps the most serious finding of the research, because it reveals that the problem is not limited to certain employers or individual cases, but concerns deeper characteristics of the productive model of Greek tourism itself.
The growth of Greek tourism and the paradox of the labor crisis
The impressive economic growth of Greek tourism is accompanied by an equally impressive contradiction: as investments, arrivals and tourism revenues increase, the more difficult it becomes for many businesses to find and retain staff. The research highlights that the sector is now entering a period of severe human resource shortages, which are expected to intensify dramatically in the next decade. This phenomenon cannot be explained solely by demographic or educational factors. On the contrary, it is directly linked to the quality of work offered by the sector.
For decades, Greek tourism was based on a model of low labor costs, intense seasonality and increased flexibility. This logic was considered essential for maintaining the competitiveness of the Greek product. However, the research demonstrates that this particular model now seems to be reaching its limits. New generations of workers appear much less willing to accept grueling hours, uncertain working conditions and limited career prospects. Working in tourism is no longer necessarily seen as attractive or sustainable in the long term, especially when compared to other sectors or work opportunities abroad.
The study shows that seasonality continues to be a key mechanism for generating insecurity. Almost half of the participants state that they work or have worked seasonally in recent years, which implies constant uncertainty about the future, limited ability to plan their careers and dependence on the conditions of each tourist season. Seasonal work affects not only the stability of income, but also the entire social and personal life of workers. Many are forced to move every year to different destinations, live far from their families and adapt to conditions of temporary nature that deeply affect their mental well-being.
This constant insecurity creates a paradox: tourism is the country’s most powerful economic sector, but a large part of its workers is unable to feel professional and financial security. The research shows that many workers now perceive their work not as a professional prospect but as a temporary and exhausting condition of survival.
The reality of everyday work: intensification, burnout and “semi-compliance”
One of the most important findings of the research concerns the deep gap between the institutional image of work and the actual experience of workers. At a formal level, the majority of participants state that they have a written employment contract and that companies appear to operate in accordance with the legal framework. However, everyday work experience reveals a different reality, where formal compliance often coexists with informal practices that violate labor rights.
The research uses the particularly apt term “semi-compliance” to describe this situation. That is, many companies appear to be officially legal, but in practice operate with great flexibility to the detriment of the worker. Workers describe cases of undeclared overtime, differences between the hours provided for in the contract and the actual working hours, late payments or even part of the salary being paid “in the black”.
This picture is directly linked to the intense intensification of work. Many workers describe an environment of constant pressure, where staff shortages and the increased demands of the tourist season translate into excessive workload. Participants speak of seven days of work without a day off, shifts exceeding 10 hours and daily physical and mental exhaustion. Work is often described as a “survival marathon”, especially during peak months in seasonal occupations.
It is also noteworthy that a large proportion of workers believe that wages do not reflect either the intensity of the work or the increased cost of living in tourist destinations. The problem is not only the level of the salary but also the feeling that their work is undervalued. Workers directly link low wages to a broader culture of devaluing work in the sector.
Even more worrying are the data on psychological pressure, verbal violence and abusive behaviour in the workplace. The survey records particularly high rates of verbal and psychological abuse, while a significant number of workers state that they systematically experience bullying or humiliating behaviors. This pressure does not come only from superiors but often also from customers, which highlights the deep power asymmetry that characterizes work in hospitality services.
Of particular interest is the fact that several workers consider these behaviors to be somewhat “expected” within the context of tourism work. This shows that abusive or exhausting work is not always treated as an exception but as part of the culture of the industry.
The housing issue of seasonal work
Among the most revealing points of the survey is the analysis of the housing conditions of seasonal workers. This issue is now evolving into one of the most important social and operational challenges of Greek tourism.
The development of tourism, especially on the islands and in popular destinations, has led to a surge in housing costs. Short-term rentals and increased tourism demand are dramatically reducing the availability of housing for workers. As a result, many workers are now completely dependent on the housing provided by their employer.
Although several companies provide housing, the quality of this accommodation is often problematic. The survey records cases of overcrowding, shared rooms, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of basic comfort and privacy. In many cases, workers state that the actual living conditions are significantly different from those agreed upon before hiring.
The housing problem thus acquires a double dimension. On the one hand, it is an issue of human dignity and quality of life, while on the other, it is developing into a serious operational problem for tourism itself. More and more workers are refusing to move to destinations where they cannot secure decent living conditions. This further intensifies staff shortages and makes it difficult for businesses to operate.
The research highlights that the problem can no longer be addressed piecemeal or as the individual responsibility of businesses. On the contrary, a comprehensive strategic policy is required for the housing of tourism workers, especially in areas of high tourist pressure.
The “fair work” condition as a prerequisite for the sustainability of Greek tourism
Perhaps the most important conclusion of the research is that improving working conditions is not only a moral or social obligation but a strategic economic necessity for the future of Greek tourism.
The sector is now faced with a critical dilemma. Can it continue to grow on the basis of the existing model of intensification and low labor costs, or will it need to invest substantially in the quality of employment? Research clearly shows that without improvements in wages, working conditions, housing and institutional protection for workers, staff shortages will intensify and the attractiveness of the sector will continue to decline.
The quality of work is now directly linked to the quality of the tourism product. An exhausted, frustrated or insecure employee can hardly provide a high-level hospitality experience. On the contrary, businesses that invest in decent working conditions, professional development and substantial staff support seem to achieve better employee retention, greater organizational stability and higher quality of services.
The real stakes therefore do not only concern labor justice but the very future of the Greek tourism model. The next phase of development of Greek tourism will not be determined only by investments, infrastructure or arrivals. It will be judged mainly by whether the sector can be transformed into a workplace that offers dignity, stability and real professional prospects to the people who support it every day.
Note: This research is part of a wider international study on working conditions in the tourism industry, including the hospitality and catering sectors, which was carried out in a total of 16 countries under the auspices of the Global Hospitality Research Alliance (GHRA). Researchers from five universities collaborated for the Greek research: the University of Strathclyde, Bournemouth University, the University of Piraeus, Nottingham Trent University and Manchester Metropolitan University.
The full report of the research is available in English HERE
The official presentation of the research will take place at the University of Piraeus on Wednesday, May 20, at 15:00, in the main building of the University.
Applications for participation can be made HERE
Source: money-tourism.gr