2023-10-20 01:15:10
Tourism: Guide Michelin should be brought back to Austria
Vienna (PK) – In view of the ongoing uncertainties regarding natural gas deliveries from Russia, the National Council approved with the required two-thirds majority an extension of the gas suppliers’ storage obligations from 30 to 45 days. In addition, the period of validity of the strategic gas reserve will be extended until April 1, 2026. In addition to the ÖVP and the Greens, the SPÖ also spoke out in favor of it.
The package is also intended to make it easier for customers to switch to cheaper standard gas products. By means of an amendment, the ÖVP and the Greens made clarifications, for example regarding information about the cheaper gas price offers. In addition, a lock-in period should no longer be permitted for so-called spot market products or gas products with automatic price adjustment.
For tourism, the MPs unanimously supported bringing the Michelin Guide back to Austria. There was a majority in the plenary session for a motion for a resolution by the coalition parties to further develop the measurement of success in tourism through surveys on tourism acceptance among the population.
A motion submitted by the NEOS at the meeting to set a deadline of November 24th for the Constitutional Committee to discuss a NEOS application for new elections remained in the minority. The motion was submitted at the end of last year and criticizes, among other things, the current government’s inability to credibly dedicate itself to fighting corruption.
Expansion of gas storage obligations
With the expansion of the Storage obligations The gas supplier is to guarantee gas supply for protected customers such as households and social institutions for 45 days between October 1st and March 1st. The period is shortened to the previous 30 days through appropriate proof if the quantities of gas to be kept are exclusively of non-Russian origin.
Energy Minister Leonore Gewessler emphasized that the gas storage facilities are currently filled to a record level and no supply bottlenecks are expected for the winter. The measures available today are about further steps towards security of supply. In addition to expanding the storage obligation for protected customers, this also includes the obligation for gas power plants to provide appropriate storage. In addition, the 30 days are intended to provide an incentive for diversification, said the minister, as did Peter Haubner (ÖVP) and Lukas Hammer (Greens). In addition, the strategic gas reserve will be extended until 2026 as “insurance”. The transparency measures for gas customers are also important, for example when it comes to reference to the E-Control tariff calculator or switching options.
From Alois Schroll’s (SPÖ) perspective, the central advantages of the package lie in the transparency measures for gas customers. However, it should also be clearly stated that the measures will not reduce a single price. This problem will not be solved with one-off payments, Schroll once again criticized.
According to Axel Kassegger (FPÖ), he would also agree with the aspect of transparency. Overall, however, he could not support the measures. For example, he sees a contradiction among the coalition parties, which wanted to improve security of supply. However, this should not increase to 45 days if no gas from Russian sources is stored, which in turn does not serve security of supply.
Karin Doppelbauer (NEOS) also sees it as positive that there should be more transparency. Overall, however, far too little is being done to get out of dependence on Russian gas. It is finally time to reduce this dependency to zero. For the gas pipelines from Norway, it would be important to expand the “WAG Loop” project and implement it quickly or before 2027. Tanja Graf (ÖVP) also said that this expansion should be supported.
Return of the Michelin Guide to Austria
A motion from the opposition parties was unanimously approved in the plenary session, in which the SPÖ, FPÖ and NEOS strive for a timely conclusion to the negotiations in order to reintroduce the Michelin Guide throughout Austria in 2025. In order to increase the international visibility of Austria’s culinary offerings, the majority of MPs also voted in favor of a proposal from the ÖVP and the Greens. The coalition parties want the Minister of Economic Affairs to pay particular attention to the marketing of top local gastronomy in discussions with relevant stakeholders such as Austrian archyde news, tourism associations, the Chamber of Commerce and agriculture. Basis The debate included a NEOS motion on this topic, which remained in the minority.
The culinary offerings in Austria should generally become more visible, as Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler discussed. Culinary guides are also a valuable contribution. Concerning the Michelin Guide, discussions are currently underway at various stakeholder levels. But there is no funding opportunity for this – this means that if the gastronomy guide succeeds in returning, it will be due to cooperation between tourism stakeholders.
An award with stars in the Michelin Guide represents an international quality feature that extends to a travel recommendation, emphasized Franz Hörl (ÖVP). With this gastronomy guide, Austria would become even more visible as a top destination, especially since it is also represented in all neighboring Alpine countries. Gerald Hauser (FPÖ) agreed with this, but criticized the fact that in many other matters, such as the framework conditions for tourism businesses, the FPÖ’s proposals were constantly being postponed. For example, it is important to strengthen the equity capital of tourism companies. From the point of view of Barbara Neßler (Greens), the presence of the Michelin Guide would promote gastronomy and more chefs would stay in the country.
Julia Seidl (NEOS) said that the “stars” were good that the Michelin Guide would be reintroduced in Austria. For them, this would be an important step for the location. In contrast to almost all other countries in Europe, they are currently not visible on the “map of the stars”.
Tourism acceptance and measurement of success in tourism
To further develop the measurement of success in tourism through long-term and targeted surveys Tourism acceptance A motion for a resolution by the coalition parties is aimed at the population. Acceptance of tourism, i.e. the attitude of the population towards guests, is a key success factor for the future of the tourism location, according to the justification for the resolution. It is important to take the concerns of the population seriously and to highlight the numerous positive aspects of tourism. According to the applicants, consciously addressing the topic is only possible if meaningful data is collected over a longer period of time. A pilot project to survey tourism acceptance was initially initiated by the Minister of Economics for the years 2020 to 2023. Accordingly, tourism acceptance is still at a very high level. Nevertheless, developments must continue to be monitored closely.
Specifically, the application aims to revise the Tourism Demand Statistics Ordinance in order to anchor long-term and regular measurement of tourism acceptance beyond 2023. Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler announced today that a draft would be finalized this year. In addition, experiences from the aforementioned pilot project will be used and formats will be developed together with stakeholders in order to analyze survey results even more comprehensively.
As far as employees in the tourism industry are concerned, attention is paid to a very good working atmosphere and good pay, emphasized Gabriel Obernosterer (ÖVP) in this context. Overall, “the hat should be taken off” to people in the service profession. With regard to tourism acceptance, Melanie Erasim (SPÖ) considers this to be a key success factor and therefore finds it positive to continue carrying out measurements. Barbara Neßler (Greens) also emphasized that the number of overnight stays alone does not say anything about how satisfied guests and the population are. Acceptance of tourism is a key factor for success. Today we are ensuring that there is meaningful data on this. Thomas Spalt (FPÖ) stated that the data collected should also be taken seriously. (End of National Council) mbu
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