Economy Of Laa an der Thaya

Laa an der Thaya is a city in the district of Mistelbach in Lower Austria, Austria. It is located near the border with the Czech Republic, about 70 km north of Vienna. The city has a population of about 6,300 and covers an area of 29.63 km². Laa an der Thaya is known for its thermal spa, its citric acid factory, and its historical brewery.

Employment

According to the 2001 census, the number of employed people in the place of residence was 2,708. The employment rate in 2001 was 45.13%. There were a total of 294 non-agricultural workplaces in 2001, and 146 agricultural and forestry businesses according to the 1999 survey. Although the city is located in the Weinviertel, no wine is grown in Laa itself.

The main economic sectors in Laa are industry, trade, and services. The city also has a significant agricultural and forestry sector, which accounts for about half of the businesses in the area. The most important crops are cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, and oilseeds. The city also has a large number of livestock, especially pigs and cattle.

Industry

Laa is home to several industrial and manufacturing companies, some of which are leaders in their fields. Western Europe’s largest agricultural dump truck manufacturer, the vehicle construction company Hans Brantner, and other medium-sized businesses, craft businesses and department stores are located in Laa. The largest industrial company in the region is the world’s largest citric acid factory owned by Jungbunzlauer Austria AG in the cadastral municipality of Pernhofen. The origins of the Hubertus Bräu brewery go back to 1454.

The citric acid factory produces about 100,000 tons of citric acid per year, which is used as a food additive, a cleaning agent, and a pharmaceutical ingredient. The factory employs about 250 people and exports its products to more than 100 countries. The brewery produces about 40,000 hectoliters of beer per year, mainly for the local market. The brewery also operates a museum, a restaurant, and a hotel.

Tourism

Laa is a popular tourist destination, especially for its thermal spa, which attracts visitors from Austria and abroad. Under the leadership of Mayor Fass, after successful thermal water drilling, a thermal bath project managed by VAMED AG was realized. The thermal bath has been in operation since 2002 with 400,000 visitors per year, which initiated increased tourism development. The thermal spring has an outlet temperature of 42 degrees. Lower Austria’s first 4-star superior hotel opened in November 2005. The number of overnight stays in Laa an der Thaya increased tenfold from 7,451 (2002) to 70,918 (2015) overnight stays, and the regional added value increased eightfold in the same period.

The thermal spa offers various wellness and health services, such as saunas, massages, pools, and treatments. The hotel has 122 rooms and suites, a restaurant, a bar, and a conference center. The hotel also cooperates with the thermal spa and offers packages and discounts for guests. The thermal spa and the hotel are the main drivers of the tourism sector in Laa, which contributes to the employment and income of the city.

Transport

Laa has had a connection to the Eastern Railway (northern line) to Vienna since 1869, which was electrified in 2006. This resulted in a reduction in travel time and direct connections to the federal capital (travel time from Vienna-Floridsdorf to Laa was just under 70 minutes). The S2 line runs from Vienna to Laa at least once an hour. The connection to Hevlín (Höflein) and Brno has been interrupted since 1945, the end of the Second World War. There are 2 km of track missing to the Czech Republic and there are plans to rebuild this connection. The rail connection to Zellerndorf to the Vienna–Znojmo railway line, the Pulkautalbahn, which opened in 1873, was closed for passenger traffic in 1988 and is now only important for freight traffic.

Road

Laa is connected to Korneuburg via Laaer Straße B 6. The Pulkautal Road B 45 leads via Jetzelsdorf to Horn in the Waldviertel. The city is connected to the district capital via Staatzer Straße B 46. As part of the construction of the Nord/Weinviertel motorway A 5, this road is to be expanded into a motorway feeder road, so that Laa will have an intersection-free motorway connection. The eastern bypass was opened on February 19, 2010 and has since been extended to the west. It bypasses the city in the south and joins the B 45 at the “Thayapark” industrial park.

Border

Laa is a major road border crossing into the Czech Republic. The border crossing is located on the B 45, about 3 km east of the city center. The border crossing is open 24 hours a day and has customs and immigration facilities. The border crossing is used by both passenger and freight traffic, especially by tourists and commuters.

Air

There is an airfield (so-called “outside landing area”) south of Kottingneusiedl. Slope 900 m × 25 m, grass. The airfield is used by private pilots and gliders. The airfield is also the base of the Laa Flying Club, which offers flight training and sightseeing flights.

Education

Laa has a diverse and comprehensive education system, which caters to the needs and interests of its students. The city has several public and private schools, ranging from primary to secondary level. The city also has a vocational school and a polytechnic school, which offer practical and professional training. The schools in Laa are: