Crisis season: Styrian tourism is fighting savings wave!

Crisis season: Styrian tourism is fighting savings wave!

Steiermark, Österreich - The situation in Styrian health care is worrying, as the “Kleine Zeitung” recently reported. The annual fee negotiations between the Styrian Medical Association and the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) have taken a critical turn. The ÖGK offered the medical representatives, since this could not guarantee the necessary expansion of the resident area in Styria. Vice President Dietmar Bayer of the Medical Association expressed that the current situation in this form has never been experienced. Despite the tense situation, however, the deputy regional office committee chairman Josef Harb fears no negative effects on the insured persons of the ÖGK.

financial worries in healthcare

The ÖGK faces a deficit of up to 800 million euros in the coming year, which underlines the urgency of a solution in healthcare. Harb hopes to remedy the financial situation during the upcoming government negotiations. The health professional Steinhart calls developments in Styria a preliminary thing of the unfinancability of the solidarity health system and calls for a round table with experts to make the financing of the health sector reliable.

At the same time, another challenge draws through the Austrian Alps. In view of the current economic crisis, German vacationers show reluctance to spend money, which could significantly impair alpine tourism. The “Investment Week” reports that the traditionally costly ski holidays are under pressure, since many Germans are increasingly focusing on a single main vacation trip and considering the price as a decisive factor. This consumption retention is alarming for Austria's popular winter sports goals and could cloud the view of full slopes and hotels this season.