Carinthia defends free tourist transport from November

Holidaymakers in Carinthia will be able to use public transport free of charge from November 1 if they pay the new tourism levy, prompting criticism from residents and the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ), ORF reported.

KPÖ state spokesperson Bea Samwald said it was unfair for tourists to travel free while people living in Carinthia faced rising costs for everyday journeys. The party called for a debate on how tourism revenue could help make public transport affordable for everyone in the state.

Carinthia’s tourism councillor, Sebastian Schuschnig of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), defended the scheme. Holidaymakers will pay a total of 4.50 euros a day, including a 90-cent mobility contribution. The Classic ticket, the most expensive version of the Carinthia ticket for residents, costs about 1.23 euros a day, he said. Revenue from the levy is expected to reach between eight and 10 million euros annually and will go into a fund that also supports leisure infrastructure.

Schuschnig said the mobility contribution in Carinthia would be used only to fund tourist transport. In Salzburg, the contribution will more than double next year and will also help finance scheduled public transport.