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Article Evaluation
Most inbound tourists into Austria in 2016 stemmed from the European region, with over 24 million visitors.

Through my research of tourism and Austria, I have found that the specific wiki articles on Tourism in Austria is very small and weak on actual information that could benefit tourists who would like to go there. If anything, most of what is stated is facts about how many tourists visited, etc. A more comprehensive guide for tourists wishing to visit and know more about tourism in the country itself would be better. I want to edit this page for my project and include from our Tourism: Patterns and Analysis assignment, the subheadings of visa/entry requirements, currency and its conversion, key tourism niche markets, level of tourism development, transportation options, attractions, weather/climate concerns, safety/security concerns, environmental concerns, socio-cultural concerns, and any emergency contacts a tourist originally outside of the country might need. Some sub categories that could be worked on, but wouldn't ultimately fulfill the assignment and do not yet exist would include Outdoor recreation in Austria, the Hospitality industry in Austria, Resorts in Austria, and Airlines of Austria. Of course, I will focus more on Tourism in Austria due to the parameters of the assignment, and the work that needs to be done on the article.

I have confirmed with my professor to focus on the article about Tourism in Austria, and I will include the subheadings from the Tourism: Patterns and Analysis assignment that I mentioned above.

Location
Austria is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. It is surrounded by the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia to the south, Italy to the southwest, Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, and Germany to the northwest. It is about 360 miles from its most eastern point to is most western point.

Land and Climate
Austria is part of a temperate climatic zone and covers 83,878 square kilometers of land. Due to the natural east to west spread from the borders of the country, there are three different regions of climates. The first region is in the eastern part of the country, which is influenced by the continental climate. This area has hotter summers and colder winters than the western and southern portions of the country. The second region consists of the western and southern parts of the country, which are influenced by an Atlantic climate with mild winters and warm summers. The final region is the Alpine region which  covers about 70% of the land area and consists of long, cold winters, and short, mild summers. This is due to the mountainous terrain found in this climatic region, which also leads to higher levels of precipitation in comparison to the rest of the country. The landscape itself can be divided into five sections: the Eastern Alps cover 62.8% of the land, the Alpine and Carpathian foothills cover 11.3%, the Pannonian Lowlands cover 11.3%, the Vienna Basin covers 4.4% and the Gneiss Highlands cover 10.1% of the land. The highest mountain peak is the Grossglockner at 12,465 feet in the Hohe Tauern range. The large River Danube flows through 220 miles of the country. About half of the country is covered in forests with fir tree forests over 1,600 feet, arable grasslands over 2,000 feet, and and stone-pine over 4,000 feet. Deciduous forests are located in the warmer, lower zones of the country. Austria is one of Europe’s most heavily wooded countries. Lakes are found throughout the country, with the largest being Lake Neusiedler.

Average temperatures in the high elevations of the Alpine region are around 41 degrees lower than other areas of Austria, with more precipitation in the summer and long winters with heavy snowfall. Austria tends to have colder winters due to its far proximity from the ocean. Temperatures can often range between -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. However, averages will usually remain between 32 degree Fahrenheit in the winter to 70 degrees in the summer. Precipitation is most likely to occur during the summer months, especially at higher elevations.

The flora and fauna is comprised mainly of species found throughout Central Europe. Some animals include deer, stag, rabbit, pheasant, bear, fox, badger, marten, and partridge. High regions will see chamois, groundhog, eagle and mountain jackdaw. The Pannonian Lowlands have a large waterfowl population, including heron, spoonbill, wild goose, and scooper. Alpine flora includes edelweiss, gentian, Alpine carnation, Alpine rose, and heather.

History
Austria has long been inhabited with civilizations dating back to 8000 B.C, mainly in the Alpine lands and the Danube Valley. One of the main regions involved in human growth was Hallstatt, due to it being a salt mining area, and was inhabited mainly by the Celtic people. By 200 BC, the Noric kingdom was absorbed into the Roman Empire and Romans began to rule the region as an imperial province, with the strongest area of influence located along the Danube. The Romans ruled for almost 500 years and founded many settlements. However, due to constant attempts of German tribes increasing their territory, the Romans withdrew their reign from the country.

Up until the 8th century, migrants settled in many areas of present-day Austria, including Germanic people, Hunnic horsemen from the east, Avars, and Slavic people. The area became highly christianized due to Irish and Scottish monks’ presence at the end of the Roman period.

Bavarians and Franks also began to lay claim to the region, and settled in different parts of the country. The Bavarian family, the Babenburgs, expanded their empire across the country, and elevated the status of Austria to duchy through the use of marital policies, which allowed the Babenburgs to become one of the empire’s leading families. When the last male Babenberg died in the mid-13th century, the Habsburgs were granted the Duchy of Austria in 1282. They expanded their empire to include the duchies of Styria, Carinthia and Tyrol through various contracts. Duke Albert V married the daughter of Emperor Sigismund, and became the first Habsburg to wear the imperial crown after his father-in-laws death in 1437.

The Habsburgs continued to rule and expanded their territory to Burgundy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Their dynasty was divided into a Spanish and Austrian line later on in 1522. Austria faced attack from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, but were pushed back and did not fall under Ottoman expansion; this allowed Austria to gain even more territories in the process. After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, it was declared by Emperor Francis II and Napoleon that Austria was its own empire, and established the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary. This multinational state survived up until the assassination of the Austrian Duke Franz Ferdinand, which contributed to the events of World War I.

After the war, Austria was claimed as a republic in 1918, which shortly fell in March of 1938, as Hitler proclaimed the annexation (Anschluss) of Austria by the Third Reich.

The country was placed under the German Reich ruled by Adolf Hitler, causing an increase of German troops to enter throughout the entire country without resistance. Hitler, who was born in Austria, was initially accepted as a hero. Many Austrians favored Hitler’s ideas and supplied support for his war. However, many Tyrolean resistance leaders provided opposition to Nazism in the area. An Austrian Freedom Battalion was established, and native Austrian Robert Bernardis was involved in the assassination attempt on Hitler. During World War II, over 65,000 Austrian Jews were murdered, with many other fleeing to different countries. It is not until 1945 when German forces were pushed back, and the country becomes occupied by Allied forces. The State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation of the Allies, and Austria regained their independence and refused to unify with Germany. This same year a constitutional law was set forth that declared the country as permanently neutral, which was done to draw out the Soviet military, in order to allow Austria to truly be recognized as a republic. Austria entered into the EU in 1995.

Population
As of April 2018, there are approximately 8,748,000 people living in Austria, making it the 98th largest country by population numbers. The population is expected to continue to grow at a slow but constant rate, and is not predicted to reach over 9 million people until after the year 2035. Austria’s population is equivalent to 0.11% of the world population. The population density consists of 275 people per square mile. 65.5% of the population is urbanized, and the median age is 43.5 years. The highest area of population in the country is the capital of Vienna, with 1,691,468 people. Other large densities in the population are found in Graz, Linz, Salzburg, and Innsbruck. There are approximately 233 births per day and 231 deaths per day, with one net migrant entering the country every 26 minutes. Across the country, population increases from 2001 to 2011 have mainly been from immigration into Austria.

Austrians are the largest ethnic group comprising 91.1% of the population. The second largest ethnic groups of Austria are former Yugoslavians, which make of 4% of the population and consist of Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks. The remaining ethnic groups are Turks at 1.6%, Germans at 0.9%, and other/unspecified at 2.4%.

Government
Austria is a parliamentary representative democracy with a governmental federal republic. The country is comprised of nine independent federal states and provinces, which include Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna. The government name itself is known as the Republic of Austria, with the constitution formed in 1920. The Federal President of the Republic of Austria is currently Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen. He was elected by the people in January of 2017 for a running term of 6 years. The head of government is Chancellor Christian Kern.

In 1955, Austria joined the United Nations, and created the Austrian State Treaty which re-established the country as a sovereign state after many years under the occupation of Allied countries after WWII. In 1995, Austria joined the European Union and signed the Schengen Agreement.

There is a federal legislation that consists of the Parliament, which includes the national council and the Upper House of Parliament. In the executive branch, is the cabinet which consists of the Council of Ministers chosen by the president on advice of the chancellor. The Federal Assembly consists of the Federal Council (Bundesrat), which has 62 seats and the members are appointed by state parliaments with 3-12 seats per seat depending on population of that state. The legislative branch also consists of the National Council (Nationalrat), which has 183 seats, with members elected by proportional representation vote. The highest court of the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court of Justice (Oberster Gerichtshof), which consists of 85 judges, the Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof), which consists of 20 judges and 6 substitutes, and the Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof), which consists primarily of two judges.

The flag has three equal horizontal bands of red, white, and red, going from top to bottom. The symbol of the flag comes from the 1191 battle of the Third Crusade, when Duke Leopold V of Austria had a blood-spattered white tunic from fighting. When he removed his belt, a white band was revealed, showing a red-white-red color combination, which became the national colors.

The national symbols of the country include the eagle, edelweiss, and the Alpine gentian. The national anthem is the Bundeshymne, which was adopted in 1947, and is known as the Land of the Mountains, Land by the River. This was not the traditional anthem of Austria. The original consisted of an imperial anthem by Franz Josef Haydn. However, due to its appropriation to Germany and the Nazi regime, the anthem was changed.

Economy
After World War II, the Austrian parliament enacted legislation that nationalized over 70 firms in industries and services, including the largest commercial banks, coal, mining, iron and steel products, electrical machinery and appliances, and river navigation. Austria’s economy is considered a free market that is highly industrialized, with a large manufacturing and service sector. It is considered one of the most prosperous and stable countries of the EU. The income level is rated as high, and the level of development is considered highly developed. Austria’s industry covers all branches of manufacturing, with plants and systems making up a large share, and provides a lot of the export products. Some of the main items produced include vehicle manufacturing, food, luxury commodities, chemicals, and organic farming. The GDP composition is made up of 70.73% in services, 28% in industry, 18.2% in manufacturing, and 1.27% in agriculture. (Manufacturing is reported separately). Tourism is also known to play a crucial role in the economy. The fastest growing area of the economy involves the service sector, with tourism being the biggest contributor making up 13% of the GDP. In 2012, the country saw 131 million tourists. The natural resources of the land include minerals, non-ferrous metals, and iron ore. However, there has been a push towards using more hydroelectric power. Major exports of Austria include medication, vehicle parts, and cars, while the major imports consist of cars and petroleum. As of 2016, the GDP of Austria was over $441 billion dollars, with the growth rate at 1.481%. And is ranked 43rd out of 195 countries. Austria’s top three trade partners in 2015 included Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Unemployment rate is at 5.7% and  in 2016, was rated 24th in the word on the Human Development Index.

Language
The dominant language of Austria is German, known as Austrian German, which is spoken fluently by 98% of the population; this is the official language of the country. There are a variety of regional dialects, with the most common one being Austro-Bavarian. Slovene is considered the official language in the southern province of Carinthia. Other official languages spoken in the country include Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian, but only in certain regions of the country. The largest second language taught in schools nationwide is English. Because of this, most of the younger generations speak a fair amount of English. Most tourist destinations have large amounts of local English speakers to assist tourists from English speaking countries.

Some common sayings in German are:

Please                                bitte (pronounced bitter)

Thank you                          danke

Hello (formal)                     Grüßgott (groose-got)

Hello (informal)                  Servus (sair-vuss)

Goodbye (formal)              Auf Wiedersehen (owf-vee-duh-zane)

Goodbye (informal)           Tschüss (chuce), Baba (bah-bah), or Ciao

No                                      Nein (nine)

Where is? Wo findet man?

I don’t understand              Ich fühl mich krank

How much does it cost? Wieviel kostet das?

Do you speak English? Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Religion
Freedom of religion is a right guaranteed to all Austrians, with 13 churches and organizations legally recognized as of 2011. The dominant religion is Catholicism, with Roman Catholicism making up 73.6% of the population and has strongly influenced Austria’s culture. Many Catholic churches, shrines, monasteries and cathedrals are found throughout Austria and are usually located in the center of every town. One of the most famous religious buildings includes St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna.The next largest sector is atheism at 12%, followed by Protestant at 4.9%, Muslim at 4.2%, Orthodox at 2.2%, and other at 2.8%. However, as of January 2011, the percentage of Catholics has dropped to 64.1% and Protestants has dropped to 3.8%. Other religions are seeing an increase in population numbers as more migrants make their way to Austria.

The Habsburgs were influential in creating a Catholic power in Austria during the 16th and 17th centuries, repressing all other confessions and religions. It was not until 1781 when Emperor Joseph II issued a Patent of Tolerance that allowed other religion limited freedoms for worship. It was not until 1867 that religious freedom was declared a constitutional right. Religious rights are protected under the Basic Law on the General Rights of Nationals of 1867 and the Law Regarding Inter-confessional Relationships of 1868. In the past, Vienna has temporarily been the home to the capitol of the Holy Roman Empire, which caused about 90% of Austria’s population to be baptized.

The provinces of Carinthia and Burgenland have higher percentages of Protestants than the national average, while Vienna has higher Muslims than the national average. Of the individuals that are affiliated with a religion, 2% attended church service more than once a week, 15% attended weekly, 17% attended a minimum of once a month, 34% attend occasionally throughout the year, and 32% did not attend service at all. The Law on the Religious Education of Children states that any young person over the age of fourteen is free to choose their religion. Parents have the right to decide their child’s confession up until age ten, and between the ages of ten and twelve, while the decision remains with the parents, the child must also be consulted and a change of confession cannot be imposed upon.

In 1938, the Austrian jewish Community in Vienna alone had more than 200,000 members, which were reduced to about 4,500 during World War II; 65,000 Jewish Austrians were killed in the Holocaust and 130,000 emigrated in order to avoid concentration camps. The majority of current Jews are post-war immigrants from eastern Europe and central Asia.

Food/Diet
Austria’s cuisine, sometimes known as Viennese cuisine, is influenced heavily by the multinational traditions of its neighboring countries, including Hungary, Serbia, Romania, and Dalmatia. This stems from the time of the Habsburg Empire when their rule extended over many countries in Europe. Local dishes include Frittatensupe (a crepe soup), Speckknodel (bacon dumplings), and Salzburger Nockerln (a souffle made from eggs). Austrians often have a rich and heavy diet comprised mostly of meat and vegetables. The country is most famous for its confectionary items, which include its desserts and cakes. Some famous patisserie items are Apfelstrudel (apple strudel with apple and raisin filling), Sacher Torte ( a vanilla souffle inspired by the Alpine snow peaks), and Mehlspeisen (various cakes and puddings). Other popular food items include Wiener schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet), tafelspitz (boiled beef), roast goose, goulash (stews of beef or pork with paprika), dumplings, rehruken (a chocolate cake with almonds), and the Viennese Sachertorte (rich chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam; it is considered the king of tortes).

Some of the famous alcoholic drinks include Stroh (spiced rum) and Gluhwein (a mixed red wine with sugar, cloves, orange, lemon, and cinnamon). Austrian wines are usually served when new, and most Austrians prefer white wine over red. More than 99% of Austrian wine is produced in the vineyards of eastern Austria. The most famous wine is the Gumpoldskirchen; its name comes from the village it is produced at in the center of the winde district, and has a heady, rich, and slightly sweet taste. Austrian beers are usually inexpensive, with the most popular beer being Schwechater. The legal drinking age is 16 for beer and wine, and 18 for spirits. Lunch is considered the main meal of the day. After a meal, many Austrian restaurants will offer the customers Schnaps, which is considered a digestive. It consists of a 40% alcohol content, and is consumed in one mouthful.

Customs/Courtesies
Austrians are known to be a little more laid back than their German neighbors. However, there are still many customs and courtesies to be aware of.

Meeting and Greeting
It is customary to shake hands when greeting people, including men, women and children. Austrians are very reserved with body language, which means a small hand shake is the only expected when coming and going. Women should offer their hands first, and their hands should be shaken before men. Older Austrian men may kiss the hand of a woman; this is not a recommended practice by visitors. Maintain eye contact during your greetings and throughout conversations; eye contact is very important to Austrians.

Titles are important to Austrians, because they evoke respect. It is appropriate to use their title and surname first, until you are invited to use their first name. The general order include Herr/Frau (depending on if they are male or female), followed by their professional title and surname. All women over 18 are Frau, even if they are not currently married. After you have first met with someone, it is appropriate to drop the last name, and use Herr/Frau and their professional title only. Avoid asking personal questions until you know the person better.

Be conservative with your dress. Austrians take great pride in dressing conservatively in most public occasions. When gesturing for someone to come towards you, face your palm down and make a scratching motion with your fingers. Do not wave your hand back and forth with the palm, because that signifies you are saying “no.” It is impolite to enter a restaurant or shop without greeting the owner or workers, and it is impolite to leave without saying goodbye.

Dining
Austrians expect punctuality for social occasions. If you are invited to a home, arrive on time to initiate respect. Some households will require the removal of shoes; it is polite to ask if this is the custom for the home you are visiting. The host gives the first toast, and then the honored guest returns the toast later in the meal; eye contact is extremely important in these toasts. Eating is continental style. When you are finished eating, place your fork and knife side by side at the 5:25 position. If you leave your knife and fork open on your plate, it signifies you would like more food. It is disrespectful to leave any food on your plate. Do not discuss business during a meal unless the host mentions the topic. When dining with Austrians, it is polite to tell each other Guten Appetit or Mahlzeit, when beginning a meal. Mahlzeit is often a phrase used during the middle of the day, when it is assumed the majority of the population is headed to or from lunch. When toasting, it is polite to make eye contact with those around you and say “Prost” which means, “to your health”. The meal usually does not end with food, but a round of drinks afterwards. It is polite to stretch out eating and take your time.

Gifts
If you are invited to a home, always bring a gift to your host or hostess. If giving flowers, only bring an odd number, unless it is in a dozen; an even number means bad luck. Do not bring red roses, red carnations, or perfume unless romance is involved in the relationship with the host or hostess. Other gifts include food such as pastries or chocolates, brandy, wine, or whisky. Gifts are opened immediately by the recipient.

Tipping

In regards to tipping, common courtesy suggests that an extra 5% be added to the 10 to 15% service charge that is included in the bill. Many simply round up to the next whole Euro. Due to the service charge already added to most bills (VAT), it is not expected to tip.

Holidays
Due to a majority of the population being Roman Catholic, there are many nationally recognized Christian holidays in Austria. This includes Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi, Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and All Saints’ Day.(60)

Publicly recognized holidays in Austria include:

New Year’s Day (January 1)

Epiphany (January 6)

Easter

Labor Day/May Day (May 1)

Ascension Day

Whit Monday

Corpus Christi

Assumption of the Virgin Mary (August 15)

Austrian National Holiday (October 26)

All Saints’ Day (November 1)

Immaculate Conception (December 8)

Christmas (December 24-26) (59)(60)

Epiphany is known as “The Three Kings Day” or “Dreikönigstag” in Austria. It is to look back on the three kings, or three wise men, that visited the infant Jesus. Children will dress as the three kings and visit homes to sing about Jesus’s birth and commemorate the “king of kings”. They are then rewarded with praise and sweets.(61) In parts of Austria, a special kind of bread is made to symbolize and honor the three kings, and is known as the three kings bread. It is a large round loaf of sweet bread surrounded by smaller loaves. In one of the smaller loaves, a plastic king is placed, and whoever finds it, gets to be “king” or “queen” for the day.(62)

Ascension day always takes place 40 days after Easter. It commemorates the time Jesus Christ rose into heaven. It is considered to be a public day of rest, and a time to gather with family and friends. Most banks, stores and post offices are closed, but dining establishments can be found that are still open. Christians attend mass on this day and enjoy meals with loved ones.(63)

Whit Monday is also known as Pentecost Monday, which is a Christian holiday that follows the day after Easter. This is also a holiday where banks and many businesses will be closed. Many visitors from Germany and other European countries will visit Austria at this time. Pentecost marks the events recorded in Acts 2:1-21. It is said this is where Jesus sent the HOly Spirit upon the believers of Jerusalem and many spoke various languages and converted over 3,000 people. Church services are held where the Pentecost events are read from the bible. This is also a time where many baptisms, christenings, and confirmations take place. Symbols of the Holy Spirit, which include doves and fire are used within the church. In Austrian homes, decorations of green branches and flowers are put up around the home and worn on the body.

Corpus Christi stands for the Holy Eucharist, the body of Christ. It is a celebration of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The tradition started when a nun in Belgium, St. Juliana, claimed that she had seen a vision of a large festival to commemorate the Eucharist. The festival itself did not become official until 30 years later. Mass is held in the morning, and it is common to have baptisms at this time as well. After mass, a processional is held in the streets showcasing recently baptized children, bands, clubs, and organizations carrying flags and flower baskets. In some places, the streets may be lined with hazelnut and birch branches to appear as if the town is in a forest. In Hallstat, boats are decorated in a similar manner, and once the processional reaches the harbor, the priest and religious officials board one boat while a choir boards on another. The boats then head to the middle of the lake singing hymns. After the processionals are over, many return to the church for a benediction.

Assumption of the Virgin Mary a day in commemoration of the death of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her ascension into heaven, although it may simply be a church dedication day than the actual date Mary’s body went to heaven. Stories of the actual event are inconclusive, and an affirmative date was not chosen until the 8th century under Pope Leo IV. This holiday is celebrated with colorful processions and fireworks. A statue of Mary decorated with flowers is carried through the towns to another statue of Christ. The statues are then inclined to each other three times. Most businesses are closed for the holiday, except in areas of high tourist traffic.(66)

Austrian National Holiday

Austrian National Holiday, also known as Nationalfeiertag, this holiday commemorates the day October 26, 1955, where the Austrian Parliament passed the constitutional law on permanent neutrality, which was called The Declaration of Neutrality. This was in result to allied occupation after WWII from 1945 to 1955. It has been celebrated as Austrian national day since 1965. Celebrations from the Federal Government take place in Vienna which include: the Federal President and Minister of Defense attending a celebration in Heldenplatz, the Federal President visiting the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Burgotor, the Federal President addresses the public via a speech on television, the Federal Chancellery opens its doors for public visits, and new recruits of the Austrian Armed Forces are sworn in. Citizens have the option to visit federal museums either for free or at a discounted rate. Austrian embassies host various events for its citizens.(67)

All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows Day, it is a holiday in honor of Christian saints and martyrs of the past. Originally, separate feast days were given for certain martyrs, until the numbers became overwhelming. The Catholic Church declared an official feast day for all saints in the 7th century.It is believed the veil between the living and dead is pulled back on this day. Catholics will attend mass, and then visit graveyards to decorate the graves of loved ones with flowers, wreaths, and candles. This is another holiday where children go door to door singing songs in exchange for small candies or gifts. It is recommended at this time to visit the largest graveyard in Vienna, the Zentralfriedhof Cemetery, to see all of the decorations, music, and food displayed and offered at the cemetery.(68)

Easter is a holiday designated to remembering the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and His atonement. Easter is considered an expanse of 3 days, consisting of Good Friday, Sunday, and Easter Monday; Monday is the only day considered a public holiday. Many Austrians begin the celebration of Easter by preparing themselves at Lent, praying and fasting, many weeks before. Masses and plays of the Passion are common, along with egg bakes, spending time with family, and local festivals. Many Austrians have mixed the traditional practice of Easter with secular traditions, such as the Easter eggs. Street vendors sell decorated eggs, and families will hide eggs for children to find. The Easter Bunny character is common in Austria as well. Some recommended events include the Salzburg Easter Festival, the Osterklang Festival, and the Easter Market at Schonbrunn Palace.(69) Austria is known for it Easter Markets around the time of the holiday, with vendors selling various goods and products, often involving religious sentiments, Easter eggs, food, and flowers.(70)

Austria’s Christmas festivities last throughout most of the month of December, beginning with the Feast of St. Nicholas. Four Sundays before Christmas is the Advent season where families create garlands with green twigs and four candles, and each Sunday, they light a candle, pray, sing, and tell stories. Evergreen trees are placed inside the home and decorated with Christmas lights, ornaments, nuts, and sweets. The lights on the tree are usually not lit until Christmas Eve. Large Christmas and holiday markets are set up in the towns and cities throughout the month of December, which started as a tradition back in the 13th century. Vendors sell food, wine, drinks, arts and crafts, decorations, and many various gifts. Vienna, Innsbruck, and Salzburg have some of the largest and most elaborately decorated markets in their squares.

Though Santa is known in some place of Austria, more common holiday figures are Saint Nicholas, Krampus and Kristkindl. On December 6th, Saint Nicholas is a being who brings sweets to well-behaved children. Krampus is considered to be an evil being who follows along Saint Nicholas and frightens children and beats them with a rod if they are misbehaving. Kristkindl represents the Christ Child, whom the children believe is the being who brings their Christmas presents for being good on December 25th. It is a time of gift giving, attending church services, and spending time with family and friends. Most businesses will shut down on Christmas Eve around 6 PM, and will not open until after Christmas Day on December 26th. (71)(72)

Visa/Entry Requirements
Individuals from the U.S., the EU member states, the EEA, or Switzerland, who are traveling to Austria do not need a visa to enter the country if it is for tourism or business purposes within a 90 day period every 180 days. Any other nations are required to apply for an Austria Schengen Visa, regardless of the reason they are entering the country. There are 26 countries that are apart of the Schengen Area. By acquiring a Schengen Visa, an individual is allowed to travel to and within the Schengen Area, which includes 22 countries from the EU, and 4 from the EFTA. There are a variety of Schengen Visas to apply for, depending on the purpose of visitation to the country. If applying for a Schengen Area tourist visa through the Austria embassy, 3 documents are required: passport copies, a bank statement from the last 6 months, and, when applicable, an invitation letter from a family member or sponsor with the address and phone number.

Any individuals visiting from countries that are not apart of the EU are required to have a passport that is valid for up to 3 months after their planned visit to Austria

Currency/Conversion Rates
Austria implemented the Euro as its currency in January 1, 1999, with the first issuance beginning in 2002. The euro comes in denominations of banknotes and coins. The coins come in face value of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, as well as 1 and 2 euro denominations. The banknotes come in face value of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros.

Most goods and services in Austria undergo sales tax, known as VAT, which is 10% for most tourism services. Rates for other services can fluctuate between 10 and 20%, while intra-community and international transport, excluding road and rail do not have a VAT rate issued.

Tipping is expected in Austria, either through rounding up the bill, or tipping 5 to 10%. Tipping may also not be necessary if a service charge is already included in the bill.

EFTPO’s (electronic funds transfer at point of sale), such as debit and credit, are also available for use at many popular tourist destinations, but may not be accepted in other areas, such as small businesses. ATMs can be found throughout Austria, and are known as Bankomat. You must have a 4 digit pin number for your debit or credit card when withdrawing from foreign bank accounts. Money can also be exchanged at banks and exchange venues. The most common banks in Austria are Volksbank, Schoeller Bank, and Bank Austria. Always remember to tell your bank when you will be traveling in order to avoid unnecessary locks on your card(s).

Listed below are the country currency conversions of the euro into the United States Dollar, the Canadian Dollar, the British Pound, and the Japanese Yen.

The currency conversion rate from the USD (United States Dollar) to the EUR (Euro):

$1,22 USD is equivalent to €1,00 EUR.

The currency conversion rate from the CAD (Canadian Dollar) to the EUR:

$1,55 CAD is equivalent to €1,00 EUR.

The currency conversion rate from the GBP (British Pound) to the EUR:

£0,87 GBP is equivalent to €1,00 EUR.

The currency conversion rate from the JPY (Japanese Yen) to the EUR:

¥131.50 YEN is equivalent to €1,00 EUR.

Level of Tourism Development
All following statistics in the paragraph come from the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017. In 2017, Austria received 26,718, 945 in international tourist arrivals with inbound receipts accumulating to $18,218,000 USD, with an average receipt of $681.80 USD. The travel and tourism industry accounted for 5.5% GDP accumulating $20,458,000 USD. Employment rate in the travel and tourism industry accumulated to 6.1% of the GDP with a total of 261,100 jobs. In the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017, Austria and its economy was ranked as the 12th most competitive country for travel and tourism in the world; a rank it has held since 2015. Out of the 136 countries counted in the report, Austria ranked 1st in tourist service infrastructure worldwide, making it one of the world’s most tourist friendly countries in regards to infrastructure. In terms of tourist service infrastructure, Austria ranked 5th in number of hotel rooms per capita, 1st in the presence of major car rental companies, 13th in availability of automated teller machines, and the overall quality of the tourism infrastructure was rated 3rd.

Austria ranked 21st on the government’s prioritization of the travel and tourism industry, which is above average in the region of Western Europe. In regards to air transport infrastructure, Austria ranked 35th, which is below average in the Western European region. In terms of ground and port infrastructure, the quality of roads is ranked 8th worldwide, the quality of sea ports are ranked 74th worldwide, and the quality of the railroads ranked 12th worldwide. Tourism service infrastructure in Austria is extremely high and highly competitive; it is ranked 5th worldwide in number of hotel rooms per capita, 1st in presence of most major car rental companies, 13th in availability of automated teller machines, and its overall quality in tourism infrastructure is rated 3rd worldwide. Austria hosts around 41.5 million guests a year, with most staying on average 3.5 days in 4 or 5 star hotels (41.4%) and 3 star hotels (23.4%), and mainly visiting Tyrol, Salzburg, and the capital city of Vienna.

Austria provides large access to tourist accommodations, including 64,500 establishments with over 1.1 million beds. The country includes 246 convention hotels, 80 convention and exhibition halls hosting over 8,500 conferences and 5,300 seminars a year, with Vienna one of the top five meeting cities worldwide. There are more than 150 thermal and mineral springs, which have attracted the establishments of many recreational hotels and health resort with over 20 million overnights per year. With the Alps covering almost two-thirds of the country, Austria is the number one skiing destination of Europe with 23,700 hectares of ski slopes, generating more than 1.3 billion euros a year. Austria also contains 6 national parks, 48 nature parks, 74,276 km in hiking trails, and 629 mountain huts. There are 9 UNESCO world heritage heritage sights in the country, 700 museums, and 37,700 protected monuments. More than 15,550 plays and concerts are performed per year. Through guest surveys it was found most tourists come because of the winter and summer sport offerings, the geography, the hospitality, the gastronomy, and the wide range in accommodations. Tourism is concentrated heavily in the Alpine rural regions, with 66.5% of overnights spent in those locations, with one region ranking as one of the 20 tourist destinations in the European Union in terms of nights spent in any accommodation.

Due to above-average tourist infrastructure and price competitiveness, tourism demand has been focused on developing even higher quality facilities and implementing more structural adaptation measures. Austria was ranked the world’s most important tourist location in the World Economic Forum in 2016.

Tourism Strategy Vienna 2020 has been implemented to find creative measures to improve Austria as a tourist destination, and increase its competitiveness in the global market. It is estimated that annual overnight stays by tourists will increase to 18 million in 2020 and see 1.8 billion international tourists by 2030.

Transportation
Austria has some of the most well-developed transport networks in the European Union, with a variety of air, bus, railway, car, boat, tram, and train options. The capital city of Vienna has extensive public transport networks. Some rural areas require unique transport such as electric gondola or cable car.

Air
All of the major cities in Austria have international airports with three of the major airports in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck. Other major cities include Linz, Graz, and Klagenfurt. The international gateway for Austria is the airport in Vienna, which is the hub of the national carrier Austrian Airlines and Lauda Air.

Railway
The main railroad transport is through the Austrian Federal Railways known as Osterreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB). It is considered the most efficient way to move through Austria, as well as the best way to witness much of the natural landscape in a short period of time due to over 6,000 km of track. The rail network is relatively inexpensive and offers frequent daily connections to various parts of the country and other nearby countries. Some rail passes even allow transport to 28 different surrounding countries, with regional passes including all of Austria and your choice of one neighboring country. Trains are a reliable source for tourists as they will often have stations in the middle of cities next to tourism boards and access to other transportation including buses, cars, and boats. It is recommended tickets are purchased in advance, either online, through travel agents, or regionally from the ticket machines and conductors, although service charges (usually around €3.00) may apply. The Austrian Federal Railways website offers information on discounts and timetables for their respective trains, with many cities regularly served at their main stations.

It is recommended to purchase the Interrail Austria Pass if tourists plan on travelling all throughout Austria, which provides unlimited access to the OBB for 3, 4, 6, or 8 nonconsecutive days. Tickets can even be combined (kombitickets) to include ski passes or access to other nearby attractions.

The high speed OBB Railjet is one of the luxury trains that offers high-class service including Wi-Fi, and different classes of service. The train can travel up to 143 miles an hour, helping visitors get from Vienna to Salzburg in less than 2.5 hours. Reservations are not required, but are recommended due to its popularity.

Car
Austria has large highway and federal road networks that branch out into neighboring states; it is known as a car-loving nation, and most major car rental companies can be found here. Traffic regulations and signals are similar to that of other EU countries. In order to legally drive, you must acquire a motorway vignette (Autobahnvignette), which is a form of toll, to place on your inside windshield to travel on the motorways, which is known as the Autobahn. This can be purchased at the Austrian border, in tobacconists’ shop (Trafik), motorway service areas, post offices, various petrol stations and car rental agencies. Failure to place on your windshield can result in a heavy fine. Fines may also be administered if the car does not have required safety equipment, such as first aid kid, a reflective vest, and a reflective warning triangle that is placed on the road after an accident.

Toll vignette prices for 2018 vary depending on the length issued. For private cars and motorhomes, a twelve-month sticker costs €87.30, a two-month sticker costs €26.20, and a 10-day sticker costs €9.00. For motorcycles, a twelve-month sticker costs €34.70, a two-month sticker costs €13.10, and a 10-day sticker costs €5.20. Toll vignettes are required for all motorcycles. Motorcyclists are always required to wear helmets and drive with dimmed headlights on during the day.

On most motorways the speed limit can reach 130 km/h, while towns and open road can vary from 50 km/h to 100 km/h. You must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid driving license in order to drive in Austria. Those who are 17 may legally drive if they have met the requirements and are under proper supervision. The legal drinking limit is 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood, or 10 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood if you have had your license for less than two years, and for coach or HGV drivers. Severe penalties will be given for drunk drivers found over the limit. Wearing seatbelts is required by law.

It is important to note that parking is limited and expensive in the larger cities. Most parking spaces are available for 90 minute intervals in the central parts of the city. One way streets are also highly common.

Due to major winter storms and high elevations, cars and goods vehicles must be equipped for winter conditions by installing winter snow tires between the 1st of November and the 15th of April.

Boat and Ferry
Travelling by boat and ferry is heavily concentrated on the Danube and the larger lakes of the country. Services are seasonal running from mid-May to mid-September. Since the Danube runs through 10 countries, boat excursions may start in Austria and end in another country. Some of the more popular cruises include the 22 miles between Krems and Melk in Wachau, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Melk Abbey, castles, wineries, and medieval towns.

Cycling
There are many bike paths found throughout Austria, like the 200-mile Danube cycling path from Passau, Germany to Vienna or the Salzkammergut bike path. Many cities encourage the use of bicycles by implementing cycling lanes and providing various companies that rent bikes or offer cycling tours and packages. Renting bicycles is also seasonal from about April to October. Two popular companies include NExtbike and Movelo, which include electric bikes.

Public Transport
Large towns will have a variety of public transport options including suburban railways, trams, and busses. Busses, usually employed by the National Bundesbus, are also used to access remote locations not available by train or other transportation services, including ski resorts such as Tyrol and Vorarlberg, remote villages, and hamlets at high elevations. Bus routes are often timed to run with train services, in order to provide convenient connections.

Night busses are also popular in more populated urban areas, which normally operate between 0.30 am and 5 am. Other bus and coach companies include the Postbus network of Eurolines, which comprises 30 European coach companies and offers over 900 routes and 40,000 bus stops.

Average prices in public transport for a single, one-way ticket through a city are €1.80-2.20. Daily, weekly, and monthly passes can be bought, with special deals for tourists. Tickets can be obtained either by machines at stations, onboard, or at tobacconists’ shops. More rural areas will require ticket purchases from the driver.

Tram services are abundant in Vienna, which has one of the largest tram networks in the world with over 30 routes connecting the city. The trams are called Strassenbahn or Bim.