Overview of the Austrian Education System
The Austrian education system offers a wide range of possibilities to lay the foundation for a successful career in tourism. There are two basic educational pathways in tourism: tourism apprenticeship and tourism school.
In 2025, around 7 150 apprentices were trained in one of the fourteen classic tourism apprenticeships (cook, restaurant specialist, hotel and hospitality assistant, etc.). Further professions from related fields are in demand in the tourism and leisure industry, such as masseur, cosmetician or media specialist. In addition, about 7 230 students attended 26 tourism schools.
The graphic below shows the different opportunities people have to start or restart their carrier in tourism - reaching from a very practice-oriented education to scientific and research oriented studies at university level.
Apprenticeship (after the 9th school year; duration of 2-4 years)
In Austria, apprenticeship training is organised as dual education after the ninth school year: a company-based training (80%) and compulsory attendance of a part-time vocational school, the so-called “Berufsschule” (20%). Apprentices may only be trained in legally recognised apprenticeship professions. Currently fourteen apprenticeships are directly linked to the tourism sector. The apprenticeship usually lasts three or four years, but it may also take only two years, depending on the educational background.
The Austrian VET system
Vocational education and training (VET) schools and colleges balance the provision of broad general education, occupation-related theory and practice (work-placements, internships). They provide special tourism and hospitality programs of various durations and levels from the ninth school year onwards:
Duration of Education
- VET school (3 years): Vocational training basis
- VET school (5 years): A-Level/“Matura” (= Austrian national school-leaving examination entitling to university studies) and VET Diploma, permission to access universities
- Supplementary course for tourism – upgrade of apprenticeship or VET school (3 years): A-Level/”Matura”
- Tourism College (2 years): Post-secondary VET course following completion of A-Level/”Matura” to receive a VET Diploma
Academic Studies (after A-Level certificate/Matura or VET Diploma)
Several Austrian universities and universities of applied sciences offer academic education in the field of tourism and hospitality management. They provide practice-oriented, science-based occupational training and in-depth theoretical and research skills.
Employment in Tourism
In Austria, more than 228 000 employees work in accommodation and gastronomy. Labour market figures show that additional skilled employees are urgently needed. The Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism supports initiatives to enhance the attractiveness of working in tourism and to inspire people to consider a job in the tourism industry.
Other measures include modernising training content and providing support for trainees and companies. Moreover, enterprises are investing in employer branding and modern employee management. Through the so-called “Red-White-Red” card, skilled and experienced employees from non-EU countries may obtain access to the Austrian labour market. To further facilitate working in Austria, the annual quota for seasonal workers was increased from 2 989 in 2022 to 5 500 in 2025/2026. There is also an additional contingency of 2 500 places for seasonal workers from the Western Balkan Region.