As during the 2008 financial crisis, the Tyrolean economy is now in a better position than many other regions, says Governor Anton Mattle. A positive prediction for the coming summer can already be made.
From Kitzbühel via Innsbruck to the Arlberg, from Hintertux via Seefeld to Ehrwald and Reutte – the rooms are fully booked, the restaurants are full. “Tourism once again proves to be a tower of strength, it gives us strength in the crisis,” confirms LH Anton Mattle in an interview with the “Tiroler Krone”. Given the bleak economic outlook, the governor is banking on the country’s strengths. While some industries are currently stumbling, tourism is having a knock-on effect.
“Our great strength is our broad location. From industry and commerce to trade and tourism. When one industry is weak, the strength of the other industries helps us,” said Mattle, who expressed his gratitude to all companies.
Tyrol overcame the financial crisis in 2008 with tourism as a driving force and emerged economically stronger. Tyrol has managed better than other regions to overcome the decline in tourism during the pandemic. “And we will be able to use our own strength to stimulate the entire economy again, safeguard prosperity and ensure social peace,” says LH Mattle belligerently.
The Austrian economy has shrunk by almost two percent since mid-2022. In this difficult environment, Austria’s unemployment rate has risen in recent months, with Tyrol always standing out positively with values around four percent. “Tyrol is breaking the negative trend: unemployment remains at the lowest level on the Austrian scale, the Austrian economy is having a harder time than that of Tyrol,” Mattle is sure.
This year’s summer season already paints a positive picture. There were slight increases compared to the previous year; with +3.7% in arrivals and +2.5% in overnight stays, summer tourism is significantly higher than before the pandemic. The booking situation for the winter season is also positive. Arrivals rose by almost eight percent in November. “The Christmas holidays have shown that our country is very popular. Tyrol impresses with its sports offer, great landscape, many hours of sunshine, the high quality of its companies and the hospitality of its people,” says LH Mattle.
In view of some critical voices about tourism, the Tyrolean governor takes a stand in favor of the sector: “Anyone who believes that Tyrol is successful without tourism is mistaken. Tyrolean tourism, together with industry and the economy, guarantees that people have work, that the valleys remain inhabited and that investments are made in infrastructure. Tyrol can only be successful with tourism.”
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
