For SMEs in the tourism industry, it can be a challenge to participate in training courses and invest time and money to train staff in sustainability and digitalisation. This has been mentioned for example by Aqua Turm Hotel, Fernwaerts Reisen, Dervish Catering or Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe GmbH.

SMEs often work with limited financial resources and tight budgets. Allocating funds to training programmes may require diverting funds from other critical areas of business operations, which is a difficult decision for SME owners. The tourism industry is highly competitive and SMEs may feel compelled to prioritise immediate concerns such as marketing and customer service over long-term investments such as training programmes. This short-term focus can make it difficult for SMEs to justify the time and resources needed for training initiatives.

SMEs usually have smaller teams and fewer employees. This means that employees being away from their regular duties to attend training can disrupt day-to-day operations and potentially impact productivity, which SMEs cannot afford. In addition, SMEs may lack the necessary expertise or knowledge about sustainability and digitalisation. It is therefore difficult for them to find suitable training programmes or understand the potential benefits of investing in such initiatives.

SMEs may perceive sustainability and digitalisation as complex and abstract concepts, further discouraging them from investing in training programmes. Without a clear understanding of the tangible benefits and practical applications of these initiatives, SMEs may be reluctant to commit resources to training their employees.