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Finance Minister Gernot Blümel (ÖVP) announced on Wednesday that the revenue replacement will run until December 31, but only with 50 percent instead of the previous 80 percent.
AUSTRIA. At the beginning of Wednesday’s press conference, Finance Minister Gernot Blümel stressed that this is never a good time for a lockdown. December is one of the most important months for companies throughout the year when it comes to sales. To make winter tourism possible in the 2021 season, closures are now needed, the finance minister said.
Therefore, the government has promised extensive legally binding aid totaling $ 27 billion. The subsidies are distributed among several ancillary instruments, listed Blümel: The fixed cost subsidy I and II. The latter has been eligible for a week, and during this time more than 800 applications have been received for a total volume of 10 million euros. In the case of replacement of sales, 800 million euros had already been disbursed, 450 million would be transferred this week. A total of € 1 billion has already been addressed to companies.
Replacement of 50 percent of revenue for businesses
The replenishment of income will last until December 31, announced the finance minister. During the extended shutdown period in December 2020, affected Austrian companies will receive a 50 percent refund of their sales. Sales for December 2019 are used as the basis for the calculation. The request is made through FinanzOnline. Compensation for December sales can be claimed starting December 16. The additional costs for the extension of the replacement of sales amount to about one billion euros. “All companies that we overcome the crisis get valuable jobs in Austria. That is why now we are also extending the replacement of income once until the end of the year at a level of 50 percent,” said Blümel.
Köstinger: Sailbahnen opens on December 24
Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger (ÖVP) said at Wednesday’s press conference that winter tourism is an important economic factor for Austria. Together with the leisure industry, the sector accounts for 15 percent of GDP, with about 750,000 employees depending on the industry, Köstinger calculated. The increasing infections would have necessitated the blockade. Together with the fixed-cost subsidy and short-time work, companies would get through this difficult time, Köstinger said.
The minister stressed that this year Austrians will be able to ski at Christmas. For this, the cable cars can reopen on December 24. Enclosed cab capacity is reduced to 50 percent. Ski areas should reopen for day visitors from Christmas. The population wants to relax and play sports outdoors. Gastronomy and hospitality should open from January 7. Until then, short-time work should remain possible up to 100 percent. Köstinger admitted, however, that the winter season would be difficult due to the many travel advisories in other European countries.
Christmas markets cannot open
Since the Christmas markets are not compatible with the current infection rate, they must remain closed, Köstinger said. Strict measures are deliberately taken until Christmas to allow the winter season for as many guests as possible on January 7th. It is possible to enter Austria from countries with an incidence of 14 days below 100, explained the Minister of Tourism. Köstinger emphasized again that there will be no après-ski this year.
Finally, the minister appealed to the population to participate in the massive tests. The goal is to discover as many infected people as possible before Christmas.
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