Economy Of Heiligenblut am Großglockner

Compared to surrounding towns including Großkirchheim, Mörtschach, and Winklern, Heiligenblut, a municipality in the High Tauern range, shows unique economic and tourism qualities. Especially in the “accommodation and catering” industry, Heiligenblut’s workforce is mostly concentrated; the “transport” sector also shows unusual economic structures.

Heiligenblut’s economy is mostly dependent on tourism, which distinguishes it from surrounding towns quite greatly. Even if overnight stays have dropped recently, travel remains a major economic driver. The average length of stay dropped from 4.0 days in 2008 to 3.0 days in 2019, hence explaining the decline mostly. Unlike surrounding areas, Heiligenblut boasts two strong tourism seasons, each peaking in February and August at roughly 40,000 overnight stays.

Heiligenblut commuters have special qualities. Of the higher Mölltal sites, it has the fewest commuters. The way commuters are distributed by distance shows little commuting under 30 kilometers, a notable peak in the 30–39 kilometer range, and a clear increase in distances above 200 kilometers. This commuting pattern sets Heiligenblut apart from other local governments in the area.

From infrastructure-wise, Heiligenblut is reachable from the Großglockner Road (B 107), which links north to Lienz and the Großglockner High Alpine Road for state of Salzburg access. Subject to weather, the later is only accessible from May to November, so restricting Heiligenblut’s access to the south for six months. Among the closest cities are Lienz (38 km), Spittal (85km), and Klagenfurt (157km). Heiligenblut lacks a railway connection but has the Fleißalm tunnel railway, built in 1986/1987, which connects the Fleißalm ski area in winter and acts as a water conduit during the summer months.