Carinthia: becoming a full-fledged member of the European economy

Carinthia: becoming a full-fledged member
of the European economy

by Veronica DAVIES

Carinthia, a region in south-eastern Austria, is one of the nine federal Austrian states. Its total area is 9535.97 square kilometers, for a population of 559,404 according to May 2001 figures. This means a density of 59 inhabitants per square kilometer, explaining why this province tends to be structured around agriculture and forestry.

Above all - thanks to its splendid landscapes, lakes, pleasant summer climate and winter sports activities - it is known for tourism, even if unfortunately the French don't venture there much.

The province is home to a variety of resources and other economic advantages, and its strategic geographical position gives it an open door onto the Eastern and South-Eastern European markets, notably in Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and also France which, although it is farther, is quite accessible by railway, air and road. To acquaint you better with this region, here is a brief tour of the historical past of Carinthia (Kärnten in German and Koroska in Slovene).

For centuries, a strategic place in history

We will try to give the gist, without getting too involved in an historical account, which would certainly be too condensed. This land has been coveted, sought out, conquered and liberated so many times under different eras and rules! In ancient times, before Christ, the territory was inhabited by the Celts, before being taken over by the Romans. Klagenfurt, which remains the capital of this Land, or province, first shows up in history when it was founded by Herman von Spanheim, the Duke of Carinthia, in the twelfth century and rapidly became an important commercial centre. An important date is 1161, when a university was created there. In 1518, Klagenfurt became capital of the Duchy of Carinthia and the military headquarters for Emperor Maximilian I (1459 - 1519). In 1809 it was occupied three times during the Napoleonic Wars, and the ramparts protecting the city were destroyed. Bonaparte passed through, staying in what is the city's current Landhaus (Town Hall), which has kept archives on the visit. From all these different influences, Klagenfurt has preserved a rich architecture, but since a huge fire ravaged the city in 1514, almost no buildings from before that have survived. Most of the reconstruction dates from 1578, so the area's many churches and cathedrals are rich in the different Baroque arts and decors. In central Klagenfurt, you can admire the city's emblematic monument, a great sixteenth-century dragon that belches forth water, or the great bronze statue of Maria Theresa of Austria (1765). The city also has a museum dedicated to the writer Robert Musil in the house where he was born, and the secluded log cabin in the forest that once belonged to Gustav Mahler, the famous composer of the "Adagietto" from Symphony No. 5. At one time in its history, the region was part of Styria (Slovenia), which helps to explain the presence of many different ethnic groups that add to the province's cultural richness and diversity.

An ideal tourist destination

Geographically, its borders with neighbouring provinces (West Tyrol to the West, Salzburg and Styria to the North) and international border with Slovenia and Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia region) to the South means that Carinthia's landscape configuration can satisfy just about any tourist's craving for discovery, whether you're seeking out the natural world, sports, or even just rest! The province is divided into Upper Carinthia to the West and Lower Carinthia to the East, each with its own different natural landscape. Upper Carinthia is mountainous, while Lower Carinthia is characterized by the Klagenfurt basin surrounded by the Central Alps, the Carnican Alps, and the Karawank mountain range. The province's two largest cities are in this basin, and between them lies one of Europe's most beautiful lakes, the Wörthersee, with vital tourist appeal. The 707-mile-long Drave River, a right-bank tributary of the Danube, is the region's main waterway. Its source is in Italy in the Carnican Alps. It bathes Carinthia with its waters before crossing Slovenia and Croatia, then traces the border of Hungary for about a hundred kilometers. Due to its choice position, Carinthia is a sought-after destination in summer. Its many large lakes (the Wörthersee, the Millstätter See, the Ossiacher See and the Weissensee), as well as the smaller ones like the Faaker See, the Klopeiner See and Pressegger See contribute to the keen touristic interest and the development of nature tourism, which is an important economic factor for the province. The number of campgrounds is much higher than the European average, and this type of accommodation accounts for nearly 20% of the province's total number of overnight stays. Summer tourism isn't concentrated around the lakes only, however, and the Alps and other mountains also get their share. National parks like the Nockberge and the Hohe Tauern are well-visited enough, but not so much as to compromise the natural beauty or keep the tourist's experience from being pleasant and focused on the importance of nature conservation. In winter, ski resorts like Bad Kleinkirchheim, Nassfeld, Innerkrems and Gerlitzen are destinations appreciated by Austrian, German and Italian tourists, as well as a few French. The Klagenfurt airport, whose construction was subsidized considerably by the province, has distinctly improved the connections between Carinthia and international tourism. The current development in tourism is a major regional objective. The total number of overnight stays in Carinthia is now close to 13 million. Tourism has become an indispensable player in development and employment; nearly 20% of the working population works in this sector, and the unemployment rate fluctuates widely according to the season.

Agriculture, a vital activity in the regional economy

Agriculture and forestry have always been attractive forces in Carinthia. The land is favourable to farming development. In 2003, the some 11,200 farms established in the province provided employment for about 45,300 people, 4,200 of whom worked on non-family farms. Major crops include cereals like wheat, rye, barley, oats, and corn, potatoes, canola seed for oil extraction, clover and hay - an advantageous variety.

Milk production amounted to 198,200 metric tons in 2004, thanks to the province's 33,500 milk cows; the entire cattle population was close to 196,000 head, making Carinthia Austria's sixth-largest stock-breeding province. Pig breeding is also a major industry, Austria's fourth-leading one with about 145,000 head. Sheep breeding is a lesser activity, but still takes fifth place with 46,000 head. Wood is another important resource in Carinthia; in 2003, about 1,901,100 steres of wood were felled, accounting for 11.1% of Austria's total.

More and more high technology

The phenomenon that has been sweeping Europe has certainly not bypassed Austria, Carinthia in particular. The adventure that started off in 1998 at a snail's pace has gathered momentum, and its dynamics are being reinforced by the creation of specific zones. Klagenfurt's Lakeside Science and Technology Park and Villach's Tecnologiepark offer infrastructure and possibilities for cooperating with Klagenfurt's university and technical schools. These are showing real motivation to create a direct cooperative development process through a constructive strategy that has already won over a number of big names like Infineon, Magna, AT&S, Philips, Siemens, and more. High-tech development is becoming so important that this sector and the innovation sector have grown non-stop since 1998. There are now twice as many high-tech jobs as in tourism. It must be said that Carinthia is also wagering heavily on new energy sources for its future: renewable energies, water power using its many rivers and lakes, biomass and biogas, solar energy, and more - and is promoting lots of industrial settlement in all these industries.

Originally an agricultural region that has been overtaken by rapidly developing tourism, Carinthia has many natural advantages and an 800-year-old history that encompasses three different cultures. It is making the most of the charm and beauty of its landscapes and the rich architectural heritage of its towns and villages. There is a quality of life here that blends an intense return to nature with the recent push for development towards the high-tech, tempered by a great desire to preserve the environment. Carinthia has made up its mind to step boldly into the world of the European economy.