AUSTRIA TOURISM ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION

According to the Austrian Federal Constitution, the nine Länder (federal states) have the legislative and executive competencies for tourism affairs. Nevertheless, as tourism is a typical cross-cutting sector, both federal and European laws apply. In 2006, the Austrian Parliament established the Parliamentary Committee for Tourism. At the national level, tourism policy is the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy ('the ministry'). In 2010 the minister launched a tourism strategy with the objective of a close and strategic co-ordination in tourism issues. The strategy in particular strengthens co-ordination between the national level and the regional levels, i.e. with and between the Länder

The Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO or Österreich Werbung) is the country's national tourism marketing organisation. It is funded by the Ministry (75%) and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (25 %). ANTO also receives funding from the Austrian tourism trade for marketing services (e.g. tourist boards of the Länder, destinations and tourism businesses). Core competencies of ANTO are market research, brand management, innovative marketing, both domestic and international, and tourism networking and information brokering (expert knowledge on trends, markets, product development). In its international strategy, it focuses on increasing Austria's market share in the most promising international markets.

According to the legislative and executive competencies for tourism in Austria and the horizontal character of tourism itself, cooperation is essential. On the federal level, the ministry cooperates with other ministries on a case by case basis. The nine Länder, which are responsible for tourism are mainly closely involved in the so-called Strategic Group in further developing and carrying out the national tourism strategy. They are also regularly consulted in another permanent working group for EU- and international tourism activities but also on all important issues affecting tourism development.

Furthermore, the ministry is cooperating

• with the Austrian Economic Chamber in financing and supervising ANTO
•  with ANTO in tourism marketing activities
•  with the Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank (ÖHT) in funding tourism-related projects
•  with all social partners (especially Austrian Economic Chamber and the Austrian Trade Union Federation) on questions of business related issues within the general tourism policy and horizontal issues of tourism development (e.g. in carrying out specific initiatives in tourism education and training, barrier-free activities, mobility issues)

Other significant stakeholders that are involved in cooperations are the tourism marketing organizations of the Länder, the Austrian Hotel Association (ÖHV) and the Austrian Tour Operators Association (ÖRV). Further stakeholders are consulted according to specific topics.