Waiters and hotel staff: Italy invests €120 million to improve staff accommodation

An innovative measure to address one of the main challenges facing the tourism and hospitality sector: the difficulty seasonal workers have in finding affordable accommodation. With a total allocation of €120 million spread over three years, the Council of Ministers has approved, on the proposal of the Ministry of Tourism, a new provision contained in the Mef decree law “Urgent provisions for the financing of economic activities and businesses”, passed on June 20.

Staff housing: a concrete response to a real problem

The measure, called “staff housing,” aims to create a virtuous circle between business, quality of work, and housing conditions, as reported here by Il Sole 24 Ore. The funds allocated—$44 million in 2025, $38 million in 2026, and another $38 million in 2027—will be used for the construction, renovation, and redevelopment of housing for workers in the tourism sector. But that's not all: part of the resources will also be used to provide direct contributions to partially cover rent. The objective, as emphasized by Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè, is twofold: on the one hand, to improve the standard of living and stability of workers in the sector by offering housing solutions on favorable terms; on the other hand, to provide concrete support to tourism businesses grappling with a chronic shortage of staff, especially during peak seasons.

A strategic measure also for the competitiveness of businesses

The difficulties in recruiting seasonal staff are nothing new. For years, tourism operators have been reporting increasing difficulties in finding workers willing to move to areas with high tourist numbers for a few months, often penalized by unsustainable housing costs or a total lack of available accommodation. The problem is particularly acute in seaside resorts, mountain resorts, and large cities of art, where rents—driven by tourist demand—have exceeded all affordable thresholds for the average worker. This measure aims to promote greater mobility among workers and encourage the presence of qualified personnel even in areas most exposed to seasonality, guaranteeing adequate housing quality at a rent reduced by at least 30% compared to average market values. According to the provisions of the law, this condition must remain in place for at least five years for properties involved in the project.

Implementation and next steps

The decree approved by the Council of Ministers provides a general framework for the intervention, but further steps will be necessary to define the operational procedures and criteria. Within 30 days, an implementing decree is expected to specify the types of eligible expenditure, the categories of beneficiaries, the technical characteristics of the accommodation, and the procedures for accessing the grants. Particular attention will be paid to ensuring that the housing is actually reserved for tourism workers and that it is allocated in a transparent manner, according to criteria of fairness and priority linked to seasonality or distance from the workplace.

Towards more sustainable tourism, including for those who work in the sector

This measure is an important sign of attention to workers in the tourism sector, who are often considered an ‘invisible’ part of the supply chain but are essential to the functioning of the entire system. Ensuring decent and affordable housing is not only a social issue: it is also a fundamental step towards making work in tourism more attractive, stable, and professional, contributing to improving the quality of Italian tourism.

By: Silvia Morstabilini