17
Germany
The Netherlands
Great Britain
Switzerland
Italy
Belgium
France
USA
Denmark
Hungary
Poland
62.4%
9.6%
3.8%
3.3%
2.5%
1.8%
1.6%
1.1%
1.0%
Countries of Origin: Share in Bednights 2002
In terms of long-term development, the experts speak of a normalizing effect since 1973: the preceding period brought yearly touristic growth rates of 6 to 10%, with top rates at almost 15%-rates, which could not have been maintained for any length at time without a harmful impact on the environment. Since then, the growth rates have decreased and were even negative on a few occasions. Nevertheless, a modest increase was on average maintained and should continue in the foreseeable future.
Austria's official tourism policy goes under the motto "Quality before Quantity". This means, for example, that public financial subsidies to touristic enterprises are only granted if the planned investment promises to improve quality standards instead of enlargening the quantitative capacity.
Many efforts have been made in recent years to provide a wider range of tourism facilities in order to attract new target groups (i.e. groups in search of entertainment, amusement and leisure activities). Since the number of tourists seeking minimal activity during vacation is declining, Austria now offers 900 indoor swimming-pools, 22,000 kms of prepared alpine ski-slopes, 16,000 kms of cross-country ski trails, 60 wild-life parks - to mention only a few examples.
To sustain its success in a changing Europe, Austria must open up new markets for prospective tourists from overseas and from Eastern European countries.
The tendency towards "quality tourism", which increasingly demands highly qualified personnel, will continue.
total number of employed persons
total number of unemployed persons in the tourism sector
Jan-02
162,272
28,362
Feb-02
164,228
28,258
Mar-02
159,157
29,060
Apr-02
133,576
43,611
May-02
144,015
35,591
Jun-02
159,677
26,462
Jul-02
173,643
21,995
Aug-02
170,679
23,088
Sep-02
155,854
27,940
Okt-02
134,125
41,121
Nov-02
127,711
49,703
Dec-02
153,031
28,078
Jahres-durchschnitt
153,164
31,940
Professions in tourism are extraordinarily attractive for young adults: among the ten most popular apprenticeship trades with young females, four are to be found in the tourist sector (double apprenticeship "restaurant specialist - service/cook", and the single apprenticeships "restaurant specialist - service", "cook", "hotel and restaurant trade commercial assistant"). Among young males, the occupation of "cook" counts among the most popular qualifications - this is all the more significant as 80% of female and 55% of male apprentices decide for a total of only ten apprenticeship trades.
During and after apprenticeship training, there is a wide variety of vocational and further education and training opportunities open to them - technical schools, higher technical and vocational schools (BHS), special programmes, post-secondary courses, special academies, study courses at Fachhochschule (i.e. non-university institutions in 3rd level education), university study programmes and courses -, all of which fulfill the needs of modern, high quality tourism and, at the same time, make it possible for the participants in the training process to obtain almost any formal qualification and any conceivable position on the career ladder due to the high degree of transparency in the educational system.