Survey finds 74 percent of Austrians think country is on the wrong track
A large majority of people in Austria believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, according to Kurier. The IPSOS survey found that 74 percent of the 800 adults questioned in April saw a negative development, while 26 percent viewed Austria’s direction positively.
The economic mood was even worse, with 85 percent rating the economic situation as very bad or rather bad. Zuwanderung, or immigration, was named as one of the three biggest worries by 36 percent of respondents, followed by inflation on 33 percent and the Gesundheitswesen, or healthcare system, on 30 percent.
Concern about financial and political corruption and military conflicts between states saw the biggest recent increase, with both rising by 5 percentage points. Taxes were cited by 16 percent of respondents, up 3 percentage points, while climate change returned to the top 10 worries at 14 percent.
READ ALSO: What's getting more expensive in Austria right now?
Austria expects more summer guests despite lower current bookings
Austria’s tourism sector is still seeing lower summer bookings than last year, according to ORF, as geopolitical turbulence weighs on travel plans. Susanne Kraus-Winkler, the tourism division chair at the Austrian Economic Chamber, said bookings were being made at shorter notice.
Austria’s national tourism marketing organisation expects around 2 million more guests than in 2025. Its summer potential study found that 13 million people have firmly planned and mostly already booked a summer holiday in Austria, while another 11 million are seen as potential guests.
The upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna has not yet brought a major hotel booking boost. Many visitors are choosing holiday apartments or cheaper accommodation, but Austria’s tourism marketers still see the event as a longer-term demand booster.
READ ALSO: Where Eurovision fans can watch and celebrate in Vienna this May
Hantavirus cases in Austria have fluctuated sharply in recent years
The number of hantavirus infections in Austria has varied strongly over the past decade, according to Der Standard. Austria recorded 32 infections last year, compared with 19 cases in 2024.
The highest value since 2014 was recorded in 2019, with 276 cases. In 2023, there were 97 infections in Austria, equal to 1.1 cases per 100,000 people and slightly above the EU average of 0.4 cases per 100,000 people.
Hantaviruses are RNA viruses that can be transmitted to humans through the excretions of rodents such as mice or rats. AGES says the incubation period is usually 2 to 4 weeks, but can range from 5 days to 60 days.
READ ALSO: Spain says no decision taken yet on hantavirus cruise ship
Linz resident rescued from roof after apartment fire
A resident in Linz escaped onto a roof during an apartment fire and was rescued by firefighters, according to ORF Upper Austria.
He later told emergency services that there could be ammunition and two hand grenades in the apartment, but a police special unit searched the rooms and gave the all-clear.
Around 40 firefighters and several vehicles were deployed, along with rescue services and Cobra. The tenant was sitting on the roof tiles about 5 metres from the burning apartment when crews arrived and was brought to safety using a turntable ladder.
READ ALSO: What is Austria’s police emergency number and when should you call it?
What’s happening in Austria today
The written Zentralmatura in English takes place today for AHS, BHS and Berufsreifeprüfung candidates.
The Bundesrat sits in Vienna from 9 am. Its agenda includes public-viewing rules, the Wohnschirm housing support scheme, care rules affecting the Angehörigenbonus and quality-assurance home visits, and changes to private school law.
READ ALSO: What is Austria's Matura exam and why do some want it abolished?
Statistik Austria is due to publish February foreign trade figures, March retail turnover data and April wholesale price data. The 2026 Austrian Debt Report is also being presented in Vienna at 10am.
Several rail works are active today, including on the Ostbahn, Südstrecke, Franz-Josefs-Bahn, Pottendorfer Linie and the Vienna to Gmünd route. In Vienna, U6 trains are not stopping at Tscherttegasse towards Siebenhirten, while the Graz Businesslauf will disrupt several bus routes and tram line 1 from about 6pm to 8:45 pm.
READ ALSO: How major rail works across Austria will impact passengers in 2026
The weather is mixed, with early temperatures of 4C to 14C and daytime highs of 16C to 23C. Showers or thunderstorms are most likely in mountain areas, while AT-Alert and MeteoAlarm list no current warnings for Austria.
Free public events in Vienna include MUSiK.MARKT 2026 at Floridsdorfer Markt from 3 pm to 6 pm and free evening admission at the Leopold Museum from 6 pm to 9 pm. In Graz, a conference for migrant associations takes place ahead of the city’s Migrant:innenbeirat election.
Vocabulary
die Zuwanderung – immigration
das Gesundheitswesen – healthcare system
der Bundesrat – Austria’s Federal Council, the upper chamber of parliament
der Wohnschirm – a housing support scheme aimed at helping people at risk of losing their home
die Zentralmatura – Austria’s centralised school-leaving exam
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles, or news tips for The Local, you can contact us at news@thelocal.at or leave a comment below.
Comments