TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan expects an increasing number of tourists in 2023, even though the country's hotel industry is still seeking solutions to fill these gaps in staffing.
"The occupancy rate of the guest rooms in December remained above 80%, and the average price has risen to above NT＄5,000," said Tsai Hui-ru, a PR assistant manager of a local five-star hotel.
"Foreign tourists accounted for 30%, and the revenue for the rooms has also recovered to around 80% of pre-epidemic levels. The occupancy rate could reach 85% during the Chinese New Year holidays," he added.
Accordingly, the hotel industry is looking forward to sales resuming this year. The problem is that many workers in the tourism industry switched careers during the pandemic.
And although employers are now providing a more attractive salary package, they have yet been able to recruit enough new workers.
"In the past, the restaurant and hotel industries were known for providing low wages. The employment threshold was low, and the turnover rate was high, which caused workers' bargaining power to be relatively low, and the wages to be low," said Chang Fen-yi, the executive director of TLSA.
The National Development Council estimates that the working population between the ages of 15 and 64 will continue to decrease, from 16.83 million in 2020 to 7.83 million in 2070.
And low wages may be a significant contributing factor to the lack of workers.
According to data from the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration of the Executive Yuan, the average salary in the food and beverage industry in the first ten months of 2022 was NT＄36,273. The average salary in the hotel industry was NT＄37,673.
With fewer and fewer children being born, Taiwan could soon face a chronic labor shortage. If left unresolved, the consequences of this issue could have long-lasting impacts on the country's future success.
