Report on the Importance, Development and Structure of the Austrian Tourism and Leisure Industry in 2018

According to the Tourism Satellite Account concept, in 2018 total tourism consumption of domestic and foreign visitors in Austria amounted to 42.45 billion € (estimate; +5.7 percent compared to 2017), resulting in direct and indirect value-added effects of 32.25 billion € (+5.8 percent) and a contribution to the overall GDP of 8.4 percent. In 2018 both, tourism consumption and non-tourism expenditures on leisure activities by residents generated total value-added effects of 59.24 billion € (+5.3 percent from previous year) corresponding to a share of 15.3 percent in GDP (2017: 15.2 percent). Furthermore, 674,500 Austrian employees and self-employed (in terms of full-time equivalents) are directly and indirectly linked to the tourism and leisure economy, implying that nearly 1 out of 6 employed (full-time equivalents) works in the tourism and leisure sector. In 2018, Austria's real tourism receipts from international travel increased apparently (+2.9 percent, 2017 +2.0 percent), while real domestic tourism receipts stagnated already twice in a row. In total, real tourism receipts rose by 2.2 percent (2017 +1.5 percent). Concerning the market share in nominal tourism exports of the EU 28 in 2018, Austria maintained its long-term position (rank 6), the value of 4.6 percent marks the all-time low though (–0.7 percent).