Descriptive results

Since the primary data are taken from various Austrian tourism databases, and these data are evaluated and presented on an ongoing basis by the Ministry of Tourism and other federal and

provincial organizations, this thesis does not present the essential data. The data from the ATHIS 2019 dataset are also not explicitly presented in this dissertation. All basic data that have been statistically analyzed are available on the website of Statistik Austria¹⁵. The data used are described in the methodological section of the present work (see p. 96ff).

For better comprehensibility of the interpretations and the research findings, the data is descriptively described in detail. As follows, frequency tables, diagrams, and further descriptive analyses of the identified variables are presented. All data are presented at the level of Austria's service regions. A list of the supply regions can be found in the appendix (see Appendix 6, p. X).

The ratio of tourism companies to population

For the following diagram, the number of tourism businesses in a service region was divided by its inhabitants and multiplied by 1.000 for a more understandable overview. The mean value of all quotient values was then calculated and defined as 100% as a base. From this basis, the percentages of the individual averages were calculated. This shows that a large number of the supply regions are below the average of 11.4 (=100%) establishments per 1,000 inhabitants.

The most striking deviations are the regions Tyrol West (492%), Pinzgau-Pongau-Lungau (457%), Liezen (296%), Tyrol North-East (289%) and East Tyrol (274%).

Figure 24: Ratio of tourism companies to population

Source: Own research and analysis, 2021

The ratio of employees to population

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For the analysis of the following key figure, the mean value of the supply regions was defined as 100%, and the individual mean values of the regions were then calculated for purposes of comparison with this base value. Concerning employees in tourism, the picture is similar to that for establishments. Even if not so clear, it can be seen that there are a few supply regions in which many more employees are employed in tourism than in other regions. On average, 29.8 (= 100%) employees per 1,000 inhabitants are employed in tourism in Austria's service regions.

Figure 25: Ratio of employees in tourism to population per 1,000

Source: Own research and analysis, 2021

In the regions of Tyrol West (232%) and Pinzgau-Pongau-Lungau (217%), the number of employees per 1,000 inhabitants is more than twice as high as the Austrian average. Here, too, it can be seen that many regions are below the 100% line and thus below average.

Density of overnight stays

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Figure 26: Density of overnight stays

Source: Own research and analysis, 2021

The picture that emerges when looking at overnight stays compared to the resident population is similar to that of the previous key figures. Once again, the regions Tyrol West (577%), Pinzgau-Pongau-Lungau (514%), Tyrol North-East (273%), Liezen (258%), Tyrol Central Region (182%), and Tyrol East (181%) stand out very clearly from the rest of the regions. The 100% basis and thus the average value of all overnight stays to the number of inhabitants is 24.0.

Ratio of arrivals to population

The ratio between arrivals and the number of inhabitants in the Austrian supply regions has an average value of 6.4 (= 100%). This means that there are around six guests for every inhabitant.

The order of the regions in this category is as follows: Tyrol West (506%), Pinzgau-Pongau-Lungau (413%), Liezen (248%), Tyrol North East (232%), and Tyrol Central Region (190%).

Figure 27: Ratio of arrivals to population

Source: Own research and analysis, 2021

In absolute figures, this means that in Tyrol West, per resident, there are 32.5 guests, and in the Pinzgau-Pongau-Lungau region, there are 26.5 guests.

The ratio of overnight stays per km²

In order to get a feeling for the tourism volume in a region, the number of overnight stays was compared with the size of the supply region. The average value of 1,630.2 for all regions provides the 100% basis. However, it must be mentioned that Vienna was excluded from the

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calculation because with its 41,070.0 overnight stays per km², it would skew the average too dramatically and make comparisons among the other regions hardly meaningful.

Figure 28: Overnight stays per km²

Source: Own research and analysis, 2021

Moreover, urban tourism justifiably represents a separate field of research and cannot be compared with the structures in rural regions. The ranking of most visitors per km² is as follows:

Tyrol North-East (328%), Rheintal Bregenzerwald (276%), Tyrol Central Region (269%), Pinzgau, Pongau, Lungau (263%), Tyrol West (256%), Salzburg North (229%).

The ratio of arrivals per km²

In addition to overnight stays, the number of arrivals (=guests) always provides a good overview of the tourist utilization of a region. Based on the Austrian supply regions, the following picture emerges.

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Figure 29: Ratio of arrivals per km²

Source: Own research and analyses, 2021

On average, 502.3 (= 100%) guests arrive in an area of one km². Vienna was again excluded, as it has an average of 18.634.4 per km². In the ranking, Salzburg North (349%) takes first place, followed by Rheintal-Bregenzerwald (254%) and Tyrol Central Region (244%) as well as Tyrol North (241%) and Upper Austria Central Region Linz (234%).

It is essential to note that this indicator can only be considered because the areas of the individual supply regions are not the same size and are therefore difficult to compare. Instead, the parameters for determining service regions are based on a region's population density rather than its areal size (Sozialministerium, 2021). Thus, larger cities have a minimizing effect on the area. Nevertheless, it is also apparent that the supply regions in the west are significantly better developed for tourism than those in the east of Austria.

The ratio of beds to companies

If one wants to make a statement about the size of the tourism enterprises in a supply region, this can be done by comparing the number of beds offered and the number of enterprises. For the Austrian supply regions, this means that, on average, 23.4 (= 100%) beds are offered. The Austria-wide comparison shows the following picture.

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Figure 30: Ratio beds to companies

Source: Own research and analyses, 2021

The chart shows that most establishments offer around 20 beds. However, there are upward outliers, and this time they are not located in the west of Austria. With 245%, Upper Austria Central Region Linz is in the first place, ahead of Graz (148%), Upper Austria Central Region Wels (145%), and the Thermenregion (141%) in Lower Austria. Atypical tourist regions also occupy the following places: Western Upper Styria (128%), Burgenland South and Salzburg North (126%), Innviertel (123%), and Burgenland North (121%). So, it could be assumed that only a few hotels offer many beds in these regions. An interesting detail in this connection is the fact that the supply regions in Tyrol rank between 60% and 80% on the scale.

Occupancy rate

One of the most important key figures in tourism is the annual occupancy rate of the rooms on offer. The number of overnight stays generated is divided by the number of beds sold per year and shown as a % value. The average utilization rate in the Austrian supply regions is 30%

(= 100% as a base for purposes of comparison). It should be noted that this calculated figure differs from official data. For example, an occupancy rate of 24% was reported for the 2020 summer season (Statistik Austria, 2020). Since all key figures in this report were calculated using average values from 2018 and 2019, differences may arise. However, the ratios essentially remain the same, and general statements can be made, nonetheless. The chart shows that there are hardly any significant differences in the occupancy rates of hotel beds. Only Vienna is on the higher end with 190%. Tyrol Central Region achieves higher occupancy rates (133%), followed by Upper Austria Central Region Linz and Upper Austria Central Region Wels (129%

both).

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Figure 31: Occupancy rate in supply regions

Source: Own research and analyses, 2021

Length of stay

One key figure that has been declining in Austria for years is the length of stay. If the number of overnight stays is divided by the number of arrivals, the following picture emerges for the Austrian supply regions.

Figure 32: Length of stay

Source: Own research and analyses, 2021

On average, guests spend 3.1 (= 100%) days in an accommodation facility. Guests stay longer in the regions of Pinzgau-Pongau-Lungau (150%), Tyrol North-East (142%), Carinthia East (137%), East Tyrol (136%), and Carinthia West (133%). The length of stay of foreign guests is

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higher than that of nationals. Thus, those regions that are attractive for guests from abroad have the advantage here.

4.2.5.2. Hypothesis testing

In document University of Sopron Sopron (Pldal 131-139)