2024-01-11 17:05:07
Division chairman Robert Seeber expects the numbers to be the same as before Corona and would like to see more seasonal workers. But not all areas are filled with bliss.
The tourism representatives in the Chamber of Commerce are exuding optimism for the winter season, which has been running since November. “We have succeeded very well in restarting,” says the Federal Division Chairman for Tourism and Leisure, Robert Seeber.
Christmas and New Year’s Eve were also very heavily booked, reaching a historic high in autumn. Seeber assumes that this winter season the previous record numbers from the 2018/2019 winter season will at least be reached, if not even exceeded. In general, he describes tourism as a “rock in the surf” in the overall economy.
Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler is also satisfied with how the season is going – especially in the holiday regions. But January was mixed, “bookings are still subdued, especially in the cities,” Kraus-Winkler told the APA. It turns out that companies are more reluctant to hold conferences and seminars, “the so-called January slump is back.” In the city of Salzburg there is currently a decrease in overnight stays of 5 to 7 percent.
A major issue for tourism is the labor market, where there is a shortage of qualified employees everywhere. “We generally have a volatile and tense labor market, and it will stay that way,” says division chairman Seeber.
He advocates a further significant expansion of the quota for seasonal workers, which has been raised to almost 4,300 for 2024. “I would ideally like double that or, on a trial basis, a complete release.” A temporary opening “would make sense,” says Seeber – who at the same time admits that it is a “phantom discussion” because people cannot be contacted anyway.
Studies by the Linz Market Institute show that the mood for the winter season is very good throughout. For 92 percent of those surveyed, Austria is at least “attractive” as a winter destination; four out of ten are planning a winter vacation, two thirds of them in Austria. 82 percent of businesses are positive or very positive regarding the season, which is the highest level in years. In the analysis commissioned by the federal division, employees in the industry were also largely satisfied with their jobs.
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