Those who live in South Tyrol can get lift tickets there for 30% less, while local tariffs in Austria are under fire for allegedly unequal treatment that violates EU law.
The solution is obvious, says the President of the Austrian Hotel Association, Walter Veit, summing up his proposal: “Every EU citizen is at home somewhere and should have the right to a local rate for leisure facilities such as lifts or swimming pools on their doorstep. Then everyone will be treated equally and no one will be disadvantaged.“ It is important to Veit that the South Tyrolean model is not banned, but serves as a model: “Increasing the acceptance of tourism is a clear goal of the federal government. Local tariffs show the population how much they benefit from the investments of tourism companies“, Veit fully supports the initiative of Tyrol’s Chamber of Labor President Erwin Zangerl: “We need a commitment from the next government to local tariffs and a plan for how to implement them."
Kindergarten places and family allowances are also linked to residence
Veit also points to other areas in which locals are preferred over third parties: “A kindergarten place is available to those who live in the municipality, and family allowance is available to those who live in the country for children who are permanently resident in Austria. No one can explain why one should work under EU law and the other not..” Importing the successful South Tyrolean model to Austria would not only strengthen the tourism mentality, but also curb the EU and political scepticism that is particularly pronounced in Austria compared to other countries, Veit is convinced: “Anyone who wants to counteract the negative image of Europe and politics in general would be well advised to take this sympathetic – and logical – step!“Austria’s next government should quickly decide on the legal basis for local tariffs in Austria and, if necessary, legally secure the implementation through all legal authorities, said Veit.