AUSTRIA: AUSTRIANS WONDER IF FAR RIGHT FREEDOM PARTY'S ENTRY INTO GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL LASTING AFFECT ON TOURISM

Record ID: 584808

  • Title: AUSTRIA: AUSTRIANS WONDER IF FAR RIGHT FREEDOM PARTY'S ENTRY INTO GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE A DETRIMENTAL LASTING AFFECT ON TOURISM
  • Date: 1st March 2000
  • Summary: VIENNA, AUSTRIA (FILE - FEBRUARY 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF GOVERNMENT INAUGURATION (4 SHOTS) 0.20 2. VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATION OUTSIDE HOFBURG PALACE (4 SHOTS) 0.43 VIENNA, AUSTRIA (FILE - MARCH 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 3. PAN DOWN: HOTEL SACHER 0.52 4. WS: INTERIOR OF HOTEL 0.55 5. VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS ON WALL 0.59 6. CU: PHOTOGRAPH OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND PRINCE PHILLIP OF GREAT BRITAIN 1.03 7. CU: PHOTOGRAPH OF JAPANESE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS 1.07 8. CU: PHOTOGRAPH CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS 1.10 9. CU: PHOTOGRAPH OF HILLARY CLINTON 1.13 10. MV: OWNER OF HOTEL SACHER, ELISABETH GUERTLER WALKING THROUGH HOTEL 1.20 11. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) OWNER OF HOTEL SACHER, ELISABETH GUERTLER: "Together with out hotel in Salzburg, our two hotels have suffered, if you say it in financial terms, 10 million Austrian Schillings. When you compare this with total turnover from tourism in Austrian of 200 billion Schillings (US DOLLAR 14 BILLION), that's very little. But I'm affected by 10 million - for me that's a lot of money." 1.47 12. WIDE OF ELISABETH GUERTLER GIVING INTERVIEW 1.51 13. SCU: SOUNDBITE (English) GUERTLER: " If you are here in Austria, your personal safety is not affected at all. And nobody would ever think that the pictures you see on TV screens takes place here. There might be special situations, but if you always stick on them, then of course, you give the feeling to people abroad that this is everyday life." 2.13 14. WS'S: SCHOENBRUNN PALACE (2 SHOTS) 2.23 15. VARIOUS JAPANESE TOURISTS 2.31 16. MV: AUSTRIAN STATE SECRETARY FOR TOURISM, MARES ROSSMANN 2.36 17. SV: SOUNDBITE (German) AUSTRIAN STATE SECRETARY FOR TOURISM, MARES ROSSMANN: "I was for three days at the ITB (International Tourist Trade) in Berlin. The booking situation is fantastic. Overall there was a big rush, particularly to the Austrian stand. Actually, to the contrary, we always had to fight for the Austrian trade name. But now, we're so much on everybody's lips, that marketing the Austrian brand name should be easier. I told Mr Hoeferer (HEAD OF AUSTRIAN NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD) that at last people abroad know where Austria is, because before people always thought that Austria had something to do with kangaroos - they got it mixed up with Australia. That is really the case. We see no damage to our image." 3.39 CARINTHIA, AUSTRIA (FILE - JANUARY 2000)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 18. VARIOUS OF SKIERS AT RESORT (4 SHOTS) 4.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 16th March 2000 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VIENNA, AUSTRIA
  • Country: Austria
  • Reuters ID: LVAF3D37R8KGDL7G085E73C41TPV
  • Story Text: Six weeks after their European partners imposed a
    political quarantine due to the entry of the far right Freedom
    Party into government, many Austrians are wondering how the
    perception of the outside world has changed so much and so
    quickly.

    After decades of serving as a friendly neutral country
    that bridged the East/West divide during the Cold War, Austria
    finds itself branded as a pariah state - the Cuba of Europe.

    Dignitaries, from Prince Charles to the Portuguese
    president, have called off visits, possibly worried about the
    adverse publicity.

    The brunt of cancellations is in congress tourism.

    According to the Vienna Tourist Board, the city faces up to 50
    000 cancelled overnight stays in the combined years of 2000
    and 2001.

    At 5 000 Schillings per heard, per day, congress visitors
    spend significantly more than regular tourists, providing
    essential incomes to local shops and services.

    One of Vienna's most celebrated hotels, Hotel Sacher,
    which counts among its celebrated guests Britain's Queen
    Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip is also feeling the pinch.

    Owner Elisabeth Guertler laments that media pictures
    broadcast around the world of just a handful of confrontations
    between police and political activists, distort the real
    picture of a tranquil Vienna.

    " If you are here in Austria, your personal safety is not
    affected at all.And nobody would ever think that the
    pictures you see on TV screens takes place here.There might
    be special situations, but if you always stick on them, then
    of course, you give the feeling to people abroad that this is
    everyday life," said Guertler
    Despite the political success of the far-right, the
    wealthy Alpine republic has seen neither the Neo-Nazi rallies,
    nor violent attacks on immigrants that have plagued Germany
    and Sweden in recent years.

    Tourism State Secretary, and member of the far-right
    Freedom Party, Mares Rossmann said that his party's inclusion
    in Austrian government has not put tourist off visiting.

    "I was for three days at the ITB (International Tourist
    Trade) in Berlin.The booking situation is fantastic.

    Overall there was a big rush, particularly to the Austrian
    stand." said Rossmann.

    In Mares' eyes the international backlash against Austria
    was actually having a positive impact on the country.

    " We always had to fight for the Austrian trade name.But
    now, we're so much on everybody's lips, that marketing the
    Austrian brand name should be easier.I told Mr Hoeferer (the
    head of the Austrian National Tourist Board) that at last
    people abroad know where Austria is, because before people
    always thought that Austria had something to do with kangaroos
    - they got it mixed up with Australia.That is really the
    case.We see no damage to our image," said Mares.

    With Austrian ski resorts enjoying full capacities and
    good revenues, thanks to abundant snowfall, it may be that she
    is right.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register