Economy Of Kaprun
Kaprun is a municipality in the Salzburg, Austria, Zell am See district. It is at the base of the well-known ski destination, glacier-covered mountain Kitzsteinhorn. With a population of roughly 3,000 Kaprun spans an area of 100.4 km².
Mostly tourism, energy generation, and construction define Kaprun’s economy. The 2011 census shows that Kaprun had 2,130 employed persons, of which 30 worked in agriculture, 500 in the manufacturing sector, and 1,600 in the service industry.
The energy supply sector and the building sector are the two biggest manufacturers’ employers. Building and maintaining the infrastructure and facilities for tourist and energy generation like cable cars, ski lifts, dams, and power plants falls to the construction sector. Operating one of the biggest and most significant power plants in Austria, the energy supply sector runs the Glockner-Kaprun pumped storage power station.
In Kaprun, more than three-quarters of the working population belongs in the service industry. Most of them deal in lodging and food, serving the needs of the visitors to Kaprun all year round. Retail, transportation, health, education, and public administration are further service industries.
Kaprun boasts a high frequency of commuting—in and out of the municipality as well. The 2011 census shows that 1,140 employed persons resided in Kaprun; 800 of them worked for the municipality and 640 commuted to other locations. The commuters mostly travelled to Zell am See, Salzburg, and Saalfelden.
Conversely, 1,320 local residents arrived for employment in Kaprun mostly in the tourism and energy sectors. Bruck a der Großglocknerstraße, Piesendorf, and Zell am See were the main sources of the commuters.
Tourism
Since tourism brings a lot of income and job for Kaprun, it is the most significant economic sector there is. Together with the nearby town of Zell am See, Kaprun creates the Zell am See-Kaprun tourism area, among the most significant ones in Austria. With 17,620 beds, the area draws about two and a half million overnight visits yearly.
The 3,203-meter-tall glacier-covered mountain known as Kitzsteinhorn, which provides year-round skiing and snowboarding, draws most visitors to Kaprun. Built in 1965, the first glacier cable car in Austria is the Kitzsteinhorn reachable from the cable cars of the Kaprun glacier railway. The Kitzsteinhorn boasts a cinema, an ice camp, and a panoramic platform as well.
Apart from the Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun boasts another ski area, the Maiskogel, more suited for novices and families. The first tri-cable gondola in Salzburg, the Maiskogel is linked to the Kitzsteinhorn by a gondola cable car, the 3K K-Onnection, opened in 2019. In twelve minutes, the 3K K-Onnection lets skiers get from the village center of Kaprun to the glacier.
Apart from skiing, Kaprun presents a range of other sports and attractions for visitors like paragliding, rafting, golfing, climbing, and biking. Rich in cultural and historical legacy as well, Kaprun has the St. Margareta Church, the Kaprun Museum, and the ancient Kaprun Castle.
Other economic factors
Generation of energy is another important economic aspect of Kaprun. Built between 1938 and 1955, the Glockner-Kaprun pumped storage power station is a key component of Austria’s electrical supply and a monument to Austrian reconstruction following World War II. Two high mountain reservoirs, the Wasserfallboden and the Mooserboden, plus multiple power plants run on the water from the reservoirs to provide electricity make up the power plant. With a total installed capacity of 833 megawatts, the power plant can meet 10 percent of Austria’s demand for electricity during highest demand. The Limberg II pumped storage facility added to the power plant in 2011 raised capacity by 480 megawatts, so expanding the plant. Verbund, the biggest power plant operator in Austria, runs it.
Since the power plants and reservoirs can be seen in the summer, they also draw tourists. The power stations highlight the technical and engineering successes of the power plant; the reservoirs present amazing vistas of the nearby mountains and glaciers. Through guided tours and displays, the visitors can also discover the background and purpose of the power plant.
The thermal baths at Kaprun also contribute to another economic consideration. Deep drilling in the vicinity of Kaprun Castle, a wellness and adventure pool, revealed therapeutic water; hence, the Tauern Spa World was constructed in Kaprun with a cost of 83 million euros. Opening in 2010, the 2,100 square meter Tauern Spa World has indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, steam baths, massage, and cosmetic treatments among other amenities and services. Both residents and visitors looking for leisure and amusement find attraction in the Tauern Spa World.
