Tourism

Tourism is an important part of Austria’s services sector. In 1991 foreign tourists accounted for earnings of $192,4 billion, almost offsetting the negative trade balance and deficits in services or other accounts. Tourism is a principal industry and source of foreign exchange. In fact, Austria’s per capita tourist revenue is the highest in the world. Foreign overnight stays in Austria have risen consistently since World War II, from 50 million in 1950, to 59 million in 1970, and to 95 million in 1990.

The figure 79.1 million excludes people staying less than 24 hours in France, due to France is ranked as the first tourist destination in the world. France features cities of high cultural interest (Paris being the foremost), beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, and rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity (green tourism). Aside of casual tourism France attracts a lot of religious pilgrims to Lourdes, a town in the Hautes-Pyrénées département that hosts a few million tourists a year.

Nature lovers will certainly enjoy the golden beaches of the Baltic Sea coast in the north and the rocky peaks of the Tatra Mountains in the south.

Luxembourg is an attractive country with a green and picturesque landscape and many historical sites within easy reach of one another. The northern third of the country is the Ardennes, set in beautiful forested hills and valleys.

www.iexplore.com - Travel photos

www.lonelyplanet.com

Germany is a one of the most visited countries in the world. In the year 2007, Germany was visited by about 25 million foreigners. Most foreigners visited European region of Oberbayern, about 5 million people in 2007.

The smallest Scandinavian country. Landscape created in past by melting glacier. Included Faer’s islands.

Useful portals about Denmark. Lot of information about travelling, accommodation, activities, attractions and history can be found there. Don’t miss it:

Vilnius

Latvia can be accessed by virtually every means of transportation. Maritime transport links the three main seaports (Riga, Liepaja and Ventspils) with the other Baltic Sea countries, there are good railway links with Russia and Belarus, while coach routes have developed rapidly in recent years to link neighbouring countries as well as more distant major European cities.

Highways lead into Latvia from Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia.

Estonia has joined the Schengen agreement, which means that you can enter on a European Union Schengen visa and there are no longer any ID/passport controls on the EU borders.