Dresden records 526 tourism apprenticeships as culinary applications rebound

Apprenticeship numbers rebound

Dresden tourism and hospitality businesses have recorded an influx of applicants for vocational training programmes in 2026. Data published by the Dresden Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Dresden) shows that 526 new training contracts in gastronomy, hotel management, and tourism were signed by the end of July. This figure approaches the 558 contracts recorded across 2025. It also exceeds the totals recorded in previous cycles, which stood at 413 in 2023 and 478 in 2024. Regional hotels, gastronomy venues, museums, service providers, and event organizers reported an increase in both application volume and applicant quality. Industry representatives described the overall interest from young people as pronounced across the sector.

Industry leadership reaction

Regional trade organizations noted that member enterprises have dealt with persistent personnel shortages across hospitality disciplines in recent years. Tourismusverband Dresden board member Diana Maatz stated that local businesses received higher applicant volumes than they had observed in several consecutive seasons. The association reported that both the volume and the qualifications of candidates provided positive indications after multiple difficult recruitment cycles. Tourism service providers, event organizers, museums, and gastronomy operators in the city all reported an influx of qualified applicants. Maatz emphasized that the response across member businesses represents a constructive development for securing the next generation of workers.

The feedback from our member companies is truly encouraging.

Culinary training gains popularity

Among individual occupations in the sector, culinary training recorded the strongest applicant numbers this year. A total of 186 young people are beginning their vocational training as cooks in Dresden this summer. The profession had previously ranked among the most difficult positions for regional companies to fill over an extended period. Industry representatives noted that culinary roles are regaining appeal among school leavers and young job seekers. The association pointed to the prominent role of cooking programmes and streaming formats across social media as a contributing factor to the renewed interest.

Sector perspectives and technology

Hospitality employers pointed to job stability and interpersonal engagement as factors drawing young workers back to services. Martin Raich, general manager of the Hilton Dresden, reported that the hotel secured 14 new trainees within the preceding two-week window. Raich noted that hospitality careers offer varied day-to-day responsibilities, extensive human contact, and international professional mobility. He also observed that these hands-on service roles remain shielded from immediate technological disruption. Raich pointed out that hospitality positions are not in danger of short-term displacement by artificial intelligence systems.

We are currently seeing that professions in the hotel and gastronomy sector are once again being perceived more strongly for what they are, varied professions with a lot of contact with people, international perspectives, very diverse career paths and also not in danger of being replaced by AI in the short term.