Lower Austria: regional education in tourism

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Lower Austria regional education in tourism

• Multiplier meeting
• Kristanstad, 18-19th September 2007

Karin Hochmayer, M.A. Provincial Government of
Lower Austria
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Contents

• Regional profile (1-3)
• Tourism in Lower Austria (1-2)
• Education in tourism (1-2)
• Contact data

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Regional profile (1)

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1. Regional profile (2)

• Lower Austria one of 9 federal provinces
• Size 19,178 km2 around the Austrian capital,
  Vienna (largest federal province)
• Landscape Vast rural part around 50 are
  dedicated to agricultural use and 39.3 are
  forest area, highest elevation 2076 meters
• Population (2004) 1563,872 of the total Austrian
  8,043 m inhabitants (2nd largest province
  referring to total population and density) most
  of them live in the surroundings of Vienna,
• Unemployment rate in Lower Austria is remarkably
  below the Austrian average (2004 4.2)
• Economic sectors primary4, secondary36,
  tertiary60 (Gross Value Added to prime)
• Business fabrics 99,5 SMEs

the Czech Republic in the North
and Slovakia in the East
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1. Regional profile (3)

• Vienna used to be Lower Austrias capital until
  1986, when St. Pölten was elected provincial
  capital (still strong functional
  interdependencies).
• Transport connection to the neighbouring
  countries Czech Republic and Slovakia lack of a
  net of well elaborated high-speed
  travelling/transport system. Major ease S1
  connecting the highway A4 towards Hungary with
  the A2 heading South towards Italy, highways to
  the Czech Republic and Slovakia (A5 and A6) to
  come.
• International airport Schwechat (15.9 m
  passengers in 2005 being extended)
• The river Danube crossing from West to East
  (Europes second longest river)
• The Alps in the South form a natural border to
  the neighbouring Austrian province, Steiermark,
  and are winter holiday destination also in Lower
  Austria.

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2. Tourism in Lower Austria (1)

• Important industry sector but not so dominating
  like in Western provinces
• Mainly day tours or short term vacations, like
  conference tourism, health recreation, but
  trend towards several short term vacations per
  year (mainly domestic people).
• Increased demand for high quality accomodation
  (quality tourism)
• Overnight stays 2000 5,726.747
• Rooms/bed capacity in Lower Austria 7,73 of
  Austrias total
• Working in tourism is popular among teens 4 out
  of the 10 most favoured professions are in
  tourism (i. e. chef, hotel/restaurant assistant)

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2.Tourism in Lower Austria (2)
inhabitants foreigners
Great Britain
Czech Republic
Poland
Rumania
France
Slowakia
Switzerland
Others
The Netherlands
Hungary
Italy
Germany
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3. Education in tourism (1) The system in
general

• Obligatory 9 grades to pass
• Dual educational system Opportunity to begin
  training towards a chosen career path, by
  attending a polytechnic college, a vocational
  intermediary school, higher school or an
  apprenticeship
• Importance of life long learning growing number
  of courses attained in general.
• Financing mainly supported by regional budgets
  if job relevant (66 in 2003) and the rest is
  covered by private expenditures wherein 15.6 are
  below 250 euros, 3.9 between 250 and 500 and
  only 6.9 exceed 500 euros.
• In tourism, pupils may start an apprenticeship,
  attend colleges and academies, applied
  universities, or study at the university gtgtgtgtgt

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4. Education in tourism (2) Regional locations

• HLA Baden
• LBS Geras
• HBLA Klosterneuburg
• HLF Krems
• IMC Krems
• Donau University Krems
• ITM Semmering
• HLT Retz
• HLT Semmering
• HLT/GWS St. Pölten
• LBS Waldegg
• Hak Laa/Thaya

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5. Contact

• Karin Hochmayer, M.A.
• Provincial Government of Lower Austria
• Dep. of Economy, Tourism and Technology
• Landhausplatz 1, Haus 14
• 3109 St. Pölten
• E karin.hochmayer_at_noel.gv.at
• T 43-(0)2742-9005-16108
• I www.wirtschaftsfoerderung.at

Literature Statistik Austria, Amt der NÖ
Landesregierung, AMS, Wifo, Wirtschaftskammer
Österreich, Wirtschaftskammer NÖ, BMBWK