The reduction of studies at the Higher Schools of Tourism Education (ASTER and ASTEK) from four to three years is developing into a critical issue for Greek tourism, with Crete expressing particularly strong concern about the risk of downgrading an institution that has traditionally supplied the industry with highly skilled professionals.
It should be noted that reactions intensified even further after the recent meeting between the Board of the Panhellenic Federation of Directors of Higher Tourism Education (PODIX) and Deputy Minister of Tourism Anna Karamanli, where — as reported — no concrete commitments were made regarding the upgrading of tourism schools in Crete, at a time when they are already operating with gaps and serious functional deficiencies.
Remarks by G. Sfakianakis – “A three-year program does not help tourism”
In statements to Tornos News, the President of the Pancretan Association of Hotel Managers, Giorgos Sfakianakis, emphasized that shortening the duration of studies does not serve the sector’s needs, as these schools attract young people who genuinely want to pursue a professional path in tourism.
He noted that the three-year duration limits the ability to have courses recognized and to continue studies in bachelor’s programs, reducing students’ opportunities for further advancement. He also reminded that, although university-level tourism programs exist, a large portion of their graduates do not ultimately enter the industry — unlike ASTE graduates, who move almost exclusively into the tourism market.
Crete sends a clear message: “We need strengthening, not shrinking”
During the recent PODIX meeting with the Deputy Minister, the Federation’s President, Giorgos Pelekanakis, stressed that Greek tourism may remain at the top, but this cannot be sustained without well-trained professionals capable of responding to the modern demands of hospitality, technology and sustainability.
It is worth noting that the four-year study duration was not a symbolic choice. It was established in 2021 after extensive consultation with the Ministry of Tourism and aligns ASTE with European standards. Reverting to a three-year program essentially cancels that reform, undermines the academic value of the studies and weakens the professional competence of graduates.
PODIX is requesting an immediate review of the decision and the reinstatement of the four-year program, reminding that these schools are nurseries of high-level executives, essential for the smooth functioning of the hotel industry, especially in mature tourism regions such as Crete.
The day after – what is at stake for Greek tourism
In any case, the discussion is not simply about a bureaucratic change in study duration. It concerns the future of the human resources of Greek tourism at a time when the market demands greater specialization, higher skill levels and clear professional focus. Crete, given its weight in the national tourism sector, argues that strengthening — not shrinking — tourism education is the real investment for the years ahead.
