National Council decides: Tourism master plan Plan T is revised!

National Council decides: Tourism master plan Plan T is revised!

On April 24, 2025, the National Council unanimously voted for a motion for a resolution of the coalition parties for the further development of the "Plan T", the master plan for tourism in Austria. This is intended to further reinforce the focus of the plan, which was published in 2019, on sustainability and a broad participation of the stakeholders. The aim is to take into account the concerns of the local population, tourism employees and small -scale family businesses. The plan includes measures for training and recruiting skilled workers, the integration of digitization and artificial intelligence as well as the de -bureaucratization of processes. The majority of MPs also vote for the national implementation of the EU Ecodesign Ordinance.

State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner emphasizes the central role of tourism for the economy. However, she emphasizes that the earnings situation in the industry worsened. This is reinforced by a current discussion about the shortage of skilled workers and the economic challenges with which the sector is confronted. Christoph Steiner from the FPÖ criticizes the initiative for the further development of the "Plan T" as inadequate.

financial challenges and infrastructure

As part of the discussions, two applications for resolution by the FPÖ and the Greens to finance the alpine infrastructure found no majority. These applications called for a package of measures for basic renovations of protective huts and hiking trails. Barbara Neßler from the Greens called for financial security for alpine protective huts, whereby the estimated need for the alpine infrastructure is estimated at around 95 million euros.

Additional measures, such as the definition of drinking money as tax -free grants or preventing the increase in tourism taxes, were also rejected. The discussion about the alpine infrastructure and its development is of current importance, especially in view of the challenges that the changing climate change brings with it. Developments in tourism now require an integrative strategy that also puts the goals of sustainable development into the focus.

sustainability in tourism

The context of sustainability in tourism has increasingly changed in recent decades. According to a study by the Federal Environment Agency, which was completed in 2018, tourism is not only a crucial industry, but also a co -causer of ecological and socio -cultural effects. Between 2017 and 2030, an increase in international arrivals is expected to over 1.8 billion, whereby developing countries in particular come into focus. The document of the Environment Agency sketches the need for an integrative approach, to combine the ecological, economic and social dimensions of sustainable tourism.

The EU Ecodesign Ordinance, which is due to come into force in July 2024, pursues the goal of reforming products in terms of durability, reusability and repairability. This measure could help to significantly reduce environmental pollution from consumer goods. In 2021, 4.6 million kilograms of new clothes and shoes were destroyed in Austria, which reinforced the pressure on the market and the discussion about the departure from a throw-away company. This illustrates tourism for the economy.