Austria
Austria
AUSTRIA - TRAVEL AND TOURISM
Tourism is an important part of Austria’s services sector. In 1991 foreign tourists accounted for earnings of $192,4 billion, almost offsetting the negative trade balance and deficits in services or other accounts. Tourism is a principal industry and source of foreign exchange. In fact, Austria’s per capita tourist revenue is the highest in the world. Foreign overnight stays in Austria have risen consistently since World War II, from 50 million in 1950, to 59 million in 1970, and to 95 million in 1990.
AUSTRIA - COMMUNICATION
CHARACTERISTICS OF AUSTRIANS
PUNCTUALITY
You are expected to be on time in Austria. When your appointment or invitation is at 10.30, then it is at 10.30, don’t keep people waiting without a very important reason. If you cannot keep an appointment, it is very important to inform the other person immediately. If you missed an appointment it is a must to apologize and/or explain.
AUSTRIA - CULTURE
Austrians are a homogeneous people; 91 % are native German speakers. However, there has been a significant amount of immigrants, particularly from former Yugoslavia and Turkey, over the last two decades. Only two numerically significant autonomous minority groups exist - 18,000 Slovenes in Carinthia (south central Austria) and about 19,400 Croats in Burgenland (on the Hungarian border). The Slovenes form a closely-knit community. Their rights as well as those of the Croats are protected by law and generally respected in practice.
AUSTRIA - POLITICS
System of government: Federal Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated May 1, 1945).
Branches: Executive - federal president (chief of state), chancellor (head of government), cabinet. Legislative - bicameral Federal Assembly (Parliament). Judicial - Constitutional Court, Administrative Court, Supreme Court.
Political parties: Social Democratic Party, People’s Party, Freedom Party, The Greens, Alliance for the Future of Austria.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
AUSTRIA - HISTORY
Austrian history dates back nearly 2,000 years, when Vindobona (Vienna) was an important Roman military garrison along the Danube. The city grew through the Middle Ages and in 788, the territory that is present-day Austria was conquered by Charlemagne, who encouraged the adoption of Christianity. In 976, Leopold von Babenberg became the first in his family to rule the territory; the Babenberg line of succession lasted until the death of Frederick II in 1246.
AUSTRIA - ECONOMY
GDP (2007): $283,8 billion
Real GDP growth rate (2007): 3,3 %.
Per capita income (2007): $39,000.
Natural resources: Iron ore, crude oil, natural gas, timber, tungsten, magnesite, lignite, cement.
Agriculture (1,7 % of 2007 GDP): Products - livestock, forest products, grains, sugarbeets, potatoes.
Industry (30,7 % of 2007 GDP): Types - iron and steel, chemicals, capital equipment, consumer goods.
Services: 67,6 % of 2007 GDP.
AUSTRIA - BASIC FACTS
Nationality: Austrian(s).
Population (2007): 8,199,783.
Annual growth rate (2007): 0,7 %.
Ethnic groups: Germans 91 %, Turks, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, and Bosnians; other recognized minorities include Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, and Roma.
Religions: Roman Catholic 73,6 %, Lutheran 4,7 %, Muslim 4,2 %, other 5,5 %, no confession 12,0 %.
Language: German 92 %.
Area: 83,857 km2.
Cities: Capital – Vienna (with a population of about 1,6 million). Other cities – Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt.