CERCLE DIPLOMATIQUE - issue 03/2016

PROMOTION
ENTGELTLICHE EINSCHALTUNG • PHOTOS: ÖSTERREICH WERBUNG/
TRUMLER, JENS SCHWARZ, PETER RIGAUD, JENS SCHWARZ
Tourism as an Economic Engine
INFO
For further information
please visit the following
websites:
www.bmwfw.gv.at/tourismus
www.austriatourism.com
www.austria.info
www.advantageaustria.
org/international
Tourism is more than a collection of memorable postcards,
unforgettable impressions and experiences. It
can provide direct jobs to the community, foster economic
diversification, support economic development
by allowing more trade as well as better flow of goods
and services and contribute to smart infrastructure development
which has the potential to benefit the local
community.
It can also bring about a real sense of pride and identity
to communities. By showcasing distinct characteristics
of their ways of life, history and culture, tourism can
help to preserve the history of a region that may be at
risk of being lost.
Austria’s tourism industry on the rise
Austria is a country with scenery beyond comparison
and a warm hospitality welcoming all. Cycle through
lush green valleys or walk amongst spectacular mountains
criss-crossed with sparkling streams in summer.
Come winter, it’s time to head to well-groomed pistes
and stunning panoramas. No matter what time of year,
Austria awaits you with fresh air, individuality, “Gemütlichkeit”
and value for money.
This is why Austria, even as a relatively small country,
successfully reached a remarkable position in the global
competition. In 2015 a new record of 135 million
overnight stays was achieved, placing Austria on the
12th position in the worldwide ranking of international
tourism arrivals. While within the European Union
Austria ranks 6th.
As a result, tourism contributes to a large extent to the
Austrian economy, as the direct share of value-added
in GDP amounts to an impressive 5.5%. Primary and
secondary sectors, as well as non-tourism segments are
profiting from a booming tourism industry.
Austria spots Prospects
Austria is constantly adapting its tourism offer to new
travel demands, influenced by increasing tourist flows,
technological progress, all-embracing connectivity
and demographic change in order to stay competitive.
To raise our share of the increasing international travel
market the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and
Economy (BMWFW) in collaboration with the Economic
Chambers supports the internationalisation
strategy of ANTO (Austrian National Tourism Office)
to access new attractive markets, beside the well-established
ones.
Factors of Success of the Austrian Tourism
Tourism is an essential pillar of the Austrian economy.
The tourism businesses, which have shown great commitment
and entrepreneurial spirit to improve the
Austrian tourism offer, have contributed to a large extent
to the transformation of Austria from a traditional
summer destination to a leading year-round tourism
destination.
Austria as a prime tourist destination knows how to
impress its guests with its great variety of natural resources,
rich culture, smart infrastructure and its cordial
hospitality and high service standards. City tourism
has enjoyed growing popularity over the past few
years, with Vienna increasingly becoming an international
meeting point. Austria´s tourism sector, driven
by top professionals with outstanding competence in
this domain, has obtained international recognition of
its expertise especially in the areas of tourism education
and training (vocational education and training -
VET), statistics and alpine infrastructure. Moreover,
Austria has been a pioneer in successfully implementing
“Wellness-Tourism”.
The Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy
has introduced a mechanism to foster bilateral and
multilateral tourism relations with other countries and
international organisations active in the field of tourism
with the aim of sharing information and knowhow,
matching potential partners, supporting international
projects and discussing problem areas.
Tourism as a valuable Employer
Tourism implies corresponding effects on the employment
situation. In 2015 203.000 employees have been
working for tourism businesses, accounting for 5.7% of
the total number of wage earners and further contributing
to employment in other directly or indirectly
linked branches of trade. Growing tourism demand
triggers increasing competition for qualified employees.
In order to prevent a shortage of suitable manpower
and to stay competitive the BMWFW together
with partners has launched a number of internationally
acknowledged initiatives to boost the attractiveness
of jobs as well as of education and training in tourism.
The nine tourism apprenticeships offered in
Austria, with possibilities to participate in university
entrance exams, provide more flexibility and diversified
options for a long-lasting career in tourism.
Spotlights on Sustainable Tourism Development
In 2015 the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development, along with 17 ambitious
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to, inter alia,
end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice and
fix climate change until 2030. Tourism has been included
in three goals, but it has the potential to contribute
to all of the goals. This capability is further highlighted
by the United Nations declaring 2017 as the International
Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
Over recent years the BMWFW, together with partners
form the public and private sector, has been especially
active in the fields of sustainable tourism mobility,
awareness raising on climate change and tourism as
well as promotion of energy efficiency, strengthening
Austria´s position as a sustainable and eco-friendly destination
for visitors from all around the world.
LE
GUIDE
EINE NÜTZLICHE
ÜBERSICHT ÜBER DIE
WICHTIGSTEN ADRESSEN
FÜR DIE INTERNATIONALE
GEMEINSCHAFT.
A USEFUL OVERVIEW
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
ADDRESSES FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.