Austria is a country of startling contrasts, from the soaring Alps to the verdant swathes of the Danube Valley. This European beauty is noted as much for its historical buildings, awe-inspiring museums and galleries, as for its world-class skiing conditions and breathtaking mountain scenery.
Groundbreaking cultural figures pepper Austria's history, from the composing geniuses of Mozart and Schubert, to the great mind of psychologist Sigmund Freud.
Glorious architectural riches include reminders of the once-powerful Habsburgs, who dominated central Europe for seven centuries; the capital of Austria, Vienna, is magnificent with its ornate Opera House and the imperial Hofburg, while many other cities are similarly infused with historical magic, notably Mozart's birthplace, Salzburg, with stunning baroque churches set before a backdrop of snow-covered peaks.
History of Austria
From the first human settlements in the Danube Valley, to the ensuing Celts, Illyrians, Romans and Bavarians, and then the noble Babenburg and the Habsburg dynasties, Austria is a land that has been ruled by many.
The 640-year reign of the Habsburgs - creators of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - was ended by WWI; 20 years later, WWII saw Hitler invade and occupy Austria, persecuting the country's Jewish community. Post Holocaust, Austria's Jewish community rebuilt itself, but to this day the Jewish population remains much smaller than before WWII. After Austria's liberation by the Allies in 1944, foundations were laid for the Second Republic. Austria joined the European Union, and also signed the Schengen Agreement, in 1995.
The current president of Austria is Heinz Fischer, who has been in office since 2004.
Austria Culture
Religion:
Over 70% of the population is Roman Catholic.
Social conventions:
Austrians tend to be quite formal in both their social and business dealings. They do not use first names when being introduced, but after the initial meeting first names are often used. Handshaking is customary when saying hello and goodbye. It is considered impolite to enter a restaurant or shop without saying Guten Tag (good day) or, more usually, Grüss Gott (common greeting which literally means 'greet God'); similarly, to leave without saying Auf Wiedersehen (goodbye) can cause offence. If invited out to dinner, flowers should be brought for the hostess. The Church enjoys a high and respected position in Austrian society, which should be kept in mind.
Language in Austria
German is the official language. Regional dialects are pronounced and within the different regions of the country one will encounter marked variations from Hochdeutsch, ie 'standard' German. There are Croatian and Slovene-speaking minorities in the Burgenland and southern Carinthia respectively.
Weather & climate
Austria enjoys a moderate continental climate: summers are warm and pleasant with cool nights - perfect for hiking and biking in the Alps. Winters are sunny, with snow levels high enough for widespread winter sports. Ski season is from December to March.
Best time to visit:
The best time to visit Austria is June to September for those seeking sunshine and low rainfull, whilst November to March are ideal for those seeking winter sports.
Required clothing:
European clothes according to season. Alpine wear for mountain resorts.
Geography
Mountainous Austria is a landlocked country at the heart of Europe, bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. The diverse landscape can be divided into five sections: the Eastern Alps (62.8%), the Alpine and Carpathian Foothills (11.3%), the Pannonian Lowlands (11.3%), the Vienna Basin (4.4%) and the Granite and Gneiss Highlands or Bohemian Massif (10.1%). Austria's highest mountain is Grossglockner (3,798m/12,465ft) found in the Alps' Hohe Tauern range, and, on its way from the Black Forest in southern Germany to the Black Sea, the winding River Danube flows for approximately 360km (220 miles) through the country.
Nearly half of Austria is covered with forests, with the lower regions particularly densely wooded. Fir predominates above 488m (1,600ft), and gives way to larch and stone-pine beyond 1,219m (4,000ft); the Alpine foothills consist predominantly of arable land and grassland (above 610m/2,000ft); the Pannonian region is characterised by scrub and heathland.
Doing business in Austria
Austrians are quite formal in their business dealings. A working knowledge of German is very advantageous. Best times to visit are the spring and autumn months.
The Austrians, especially the Viennese, can be extremely formal to strangers. It is essential to address business contacts by their title, until familiarity is well established. English is commonly used in international business settings, but a few words in German (by way of introduction) will not go amiss. Business dress is not too formal in Vienna and it is possible to go to a business meeting without a tie. It is, however, better for business visitors to err on the side of caution in the first instance.
Business hours are generally Monday to Friday 0800-1600/1700, with many offices closing slightly earlier on Friday at 1500/1600. Austrians greatly enjoy eating in restaurants and business meetings are often scheduled over a long lunch. Breakfast and brunch meetings are also becoming increasingly popular. However, business visitors should not suggest lunch as a location for a first meeting.
Austrians tend to keep work and social life separate. Overtime and weekend work is rare. On those few occasions when you are invited to a business contact or colleague's home for dinner, a gift of flowers for the hostess and a bottle of wine for the host are essential, as is punctuality. Visitors to homes should also at least offer to take off their shoes upon entering. Business meals are more for getting to know people, so family and politics should be avoided in conversation.
Office hours:
Mon-Fri 0800-1230 and 1330-1730.
Economy:
Austria is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. Manufacturing, including mining, accounts for nearly 30% of GDP. Since WWII, much of the country's industrial capacity has been in state hands and only recently has been removed from under the protective wing of the state holding company, OIAG.
Tourism is a hugely important part of the Austrian economy, especially since joining the EU in 1995. Its agriculture industry is also extremely successful, with domestic products meeting 90% of the country's food needs. Austria has moderate deposits of iron, lignite, magnesium, lead, copper, salt, zinc and silver. Although there are some oil reserves and an extensive hydroelectric programme, Austria imports two-thirds of its energy requirements.
The previously substantial trade with both the USA and the former USSR has fallen proportionally in recent years. Austria met the criteria for membership of the single European currency and joined it upon its inception at the beginning of 1999, adopting the Euro as its currency. Since then, in common with most of the EU, the economy has been sluggish. However, GDP growth was just over 3% in 2006, while inflation was at 1.7%, down from 2.6% in 2005.
Austria has 31 conference venues, including over 20 in Vienna and a floating conference centre, the MS Mozart, on the river Danube. The provincial capitals of Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, Linz, Bregenz, Klagenfurt and Eisenstadt also offer convention venues, as do several health and spa resorts. Furthermore, there are approximately 70 hotels in Austria which specialise in the conference/convention field. For more detailed information, contact the Austrian National Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses).
GDP:
US$332 billion (2010).
Main exports:
Machinery, metals, paper, textiles and livestock.
Main imports:
Machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals and oil.
Main trading partners:
Germany, Italy, Switzerland, USA and China.
Keeping in Touch in Austria
Telephone:
Call boxes are grey and found in all areas. International calls can be made from payphones with four coin slots.
Mobile phone:
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.
Internet:
Available throughout Austria. There are many Internet cafes.
Post:
Letters within Europe take two to four days, and to the USA four to six days. Post boxes are yellow or orange; red stripes mean that the box is also emptied weekends and bank holidays.
Post office hours:
generally Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800, and Sat various hours, but main post offices and those at major railway stations are open for 24 hours, seven days a week, including public holidays. Monetary transactions in all post offices permitted Mon to Fri until 1700, Sat 0800-1000.
Media:
Austria's public broadcaster, Österreichischer Rundfunk, has long-dominated the airwaves, but now faces growing competition from private broadcasters, particularly in Vienna. This is a relatively new phenomenon to Austria. Some German cable or satellite channels deliberately tailor their content for Austrian audiences. The print market is mainly privately owned, fiercely competitive and popular.
Press:
English-language newspapers and magazines are also widely available, particularly in the big cities and tourist resorts.
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