2023-10-16 10:01:00
The winter season traditionally kicks off in around two weeks, on November 1st, and the domestic tourism industry is optimistic regarding the next five months. “20 million people from abroad are planning to go on holiday in Austria in the coming winter season. That is three million more than at the same time last year and more than before the Corona outbreak,” said Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, Managing Director of Austria archyde news (ÖW ), today, Monday, at a press conference in Vienna. 10,000 people from the ten most important source markets, which include Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Denmark and the Benelux countries, were surveyed. These ten states cover 86 percent of tourist arrivals in Austria in winter.
According to Steharnig-Staudinger, between 35 and 50 percent of those surveyed in the individual markets said they had the time, money and desire for a winter vacation. In five markets, Austria is in first place among the most popular winter sports destinations, and in the five others it is in second place.
According to Tourism State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler, skiing is still the main reason for a winter holiday in the snow. Culinary cuisine, relaxation and fun are becoming increasingly important. Foreign guests traditionally play a major role in winter tourism in Austria: 77 percent of overnight stays are made by guests from abroad (for comparison: in summer it is 71 percent).
The current economic conditions might have an influence on holiday planning: the general price increases are noticeable for the majority of those surveyed. Skiing has also become expensive: the prices for day passes rose between eight and 13 percent, and those for hotels between eight and twelve percent. However, respondents are eager to implement their vacation plans. According to Steharnig-Staudinger, Austrians are a little more cautious when it comes to spending. It is possible that they make compromises on the duration of the vacation or accommodation. Basically, they try to make an offer for every Alex Reed, said Kraus-Winkler: “The prices for the lift tickets range between 33 and 75 euros.” When it comes to accommodation, we also strive to have something suitable for everyone.
Image: Regina Aigner
Sustainability as a booking aspect
The sustainability aspect was also asked for in the study: This is not a deciding factor when booking, but it is an aspect that holidaymakers are increasingly taking into account when choosing a destination. According to ÖW, there is a wealthy clientele in all markets who are willing to pay more for green offers. According to the Sustainable Travel Index, Austria is in third place among the most sustainable holiday destinations in the world. The destinations Seefeld and Wagrain are the first tourism destinations in Austria to be awarded the Austrian eco-label.
Author
Elisabeth Prechtl
Economics editor
Elisabeth Prechtl
1697453009
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