austria tourism numbers

Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Travel and tourism in Austria - statistics & facts

What are the leading inbound travel markets in austria, the importance of vienna for inbound tourism in austria, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Direct and indirect value added of tourism in Austria 2000-2022

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Austria 2019-2022

International and domestic tourist arrivals in Austria 2010-2022

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Current statistics on this topic.

Destinations

Inbound tourist arrivals in Austria 2022, by destination state

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Austria 2019-2022

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Recommended statistics

• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Austria 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Direct and indirect value added of tourism in Austria 2000-2022
• Premium Statistic Direct value added of tourism in Austria 2000-2021
• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue in Austria 2018-2028, by segment
• Basic Statistic Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Austria 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic International and domestic tourist arrivals in Austria 2010-2022
• Premium Statistic International and domestic tourist overnight stays in Austria 2010-2022

Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Austria 2019-2022

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Austria in 2019 and 2022 (in billion euros)

Direct and indirect value added of tourism in Austria from 2000 to 2022 (in billion euros)

Direct value added of tourism in Austria 2000-2021

Direct value added of tourism in Austria from 2000 to 2021 (in billion euros)

Travel and tourism revenue in Austria 2018-2028, by segment

Revenue of the travel and tourism market in Austria from 2018 to 2028, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in Austria 2019-2022

Total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Austria in 2019 and 2022 (in 1,000 jobs)

Number of international and domestic tourist arrivals in Austria from 2010 to 2022 (in millions)

International and domestic tourist overnight stays in Austria 2010-2022

Number of international and domestic tourist overnight stays in Austria from 2010 to 2022 (in millions)

Inbound tourism

• Premium Statistic International tourist arrival growth in European countries 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Leading inbound travel markets in winter in Austria 2019-2023, by overnight stays
• Premium Statistic Leading inbound travel markets in summer in Austria 2020-2023, by overnight stays
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourist arrivals in Austria 2022, by destination state
• Premium Statistic Inbound tourist arrivals in Austria 2022, by state capital
• Premium Statistic International tourism receipts in Austria 2006-2022

International tourist arrival growth in European countries 2019-2023

Percentage change in international tourist arrivals in Europe from 2019 to 2023, by country

Leading inbound travel markets in winter in Austria 2019-2023, by overnight stays

Leading inbound travel markets in Austria from winter season 2019/2020 to 2022/2023, by number of overnight stays (in millions)

Leading inbound travel markets in summer in Austria 2020-2023, by overnight stays

Leading inbound travel markets in Austria from summer season 2020 to 2023, by number of overnight stays (in millions)

Number of international tourist arrivals in Austria in 2022, by destination state (in 1,000s)

Inbound tourist arrivals in Austria 2022, by state capital

Number of international tourist arrivals in Austria in 2022, by state capital (in 1,000s)

International tourism receipts in Austria 2006-2022

International tourism receipts in Austria from 2006 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Domestic and outbound tourism

• Premium Statistic Domestic overnight trips in Austria 2010-2022
• Premium Statistic Domestic overnight stays in winter season in Austria 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Domestic overnight stays in summer season in Austria 2009-2023
• Basic Statistic Domestic tourism spending in Austria 2019-2022
• Premium Statistic Outbound overnight trips from Austria 2010-2022
• Premium Statistic Number of outbound holiday trips from Austria 2002-2022
• Premium Statistic Leading destinations for outbound vacations from Austria 2015-2022
• Premium Statistic Outbound tourism spending in Austria 2011-2022

Domestic overnight trips in Austria 2010-2022

Number of domestic overnight trips in Austria from 2010 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Domestic overnight stays in winter season in Austria 2008-2023

Number of overnight stays by domestic tourists in Austria from winter season 2008/2009 to 2022/2023 (in millions)

Domestic overnight stays in summer season in Austria 2009-2023

Number of overnight stays by domestic tourist in Austria from summer season 2009 to 2023 (in millions)

Domestic tourism spending in Austria 2019-2022

Domestic tourism expenditure in Austria in 2019 and 2022 (in billion euros)

Outbound overnight trips from Austria 2010-2022

Number of outbound overnight trips from Austria from 2010 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Number of outbound holiday trips from Austria 2002-2022

Number of holiday trips abroad made by residents of Austria from 2002 to 2022 (in millions)

Leading destinations for outbound vacations from Austria 2015-2022

Leading travel destinations for outbound holiday trips from Austria from 2015 to 2022 (in 1,000s)

Outbound tourism spending in Austria 2011-2022

Outbound tourism expenditure in Austria from 2011 to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Accommodation

• Premium Statistic Number of travel accommodation establishments in Austria 2007-2021
• Premium Statistic Number of hotels and similar establishments in Austria 2007-2021
• Premium Statistic Number of hotel rooms in Austria 2007-2021
• Premium Statistic Bed-place occupancy rate in hotels in Austria 2007-2021
• Premium Statistic Overnight accommodation costs in Vienna 2023, by month
• Premium Statistic Number of Airbnb listings in selected European cities 2023

Number of travel accommodation establishments in Austria 2007-2021

Number of travel accommodation establishments in Austria from 2007 to 2021

Number of hotels and similar establishments in Austria 2007-2021

Number of hotels and similar accommodation establishments in Austria from 2007 to 2021

Number of hotel rooms in Austria 2007-2021

Number of rooms in hotels and similar accommodation establishments in Austria from 2007 to 2021 (in 1,000s)

Bed-place occupancy rate in hotels in Austria 2007-2021

Occupancy rate of bed-places in hotels in Austria from 2007 to 2021

Overnight accommodation costs in Vienna 2023, by month

Average cost of overnight accommodation in Vienna in 2023, by month (in euros)

Number of Airbnb listings in selected European cities 2023

Number of Airbnb listings in selected European cities as of December 2023

Meeting and event tourism

• Premium Statistic Meeting and event venues in Austria 2022, by type
• Premium Statistic National business meetings in Austria 2014-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic National business meeting participants in Austria 2014-2022, by event type
• Premium Statistic International business meetings in Austria 2014-2022, by type
• Premium Statistic International business meeting participants in Austria 2014-2022, by event type
• Premium Statistic Overnight stays for business meetings and events in Austria 2019-2022, by event type

Meeting and event venues in Austria 2022, by type

Number of meeting and event venues in Austria in 2022, by type

National business meetings in Austria 2014-2022, by type

Number of national business meetings in Austria from 2014 to 2022, by type

National business meeting participants in Austria 2014-2022, by event type

Number of participants at national business meetings in Austria from 2014 to 2022, by event type (in 1,000s)

International business meetings in Austria 2014-2022, by type

Number of international business meetings in Austria from 2014 to 2022, by type

International business meeting participants in Austria 2014-2022, by event type

Number of participants at international business meetings in Austria from 2014 to 2022, by event type (in 1,000s)

Overnight stays for business meetings and events in Austria 2019-2022, by event type

Number of overnight stays made for business meetings and events in Austria from 2019 to 2022, by event type (in 1,000s)

Travel behavior

• Premium Statistic Attitudes towards traveling in Austria 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel frequency for private purposes in Austria 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel frequency for business purposes in Austria 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel product bookings in Austria 2023
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in Austria 2023
• Premium Statistic Hotel / private accommodation online bookings by brand in Austria 2023
• Premium Statistic Flight bookings by airline brand in Austria 2023
• Premium Statistic Package holiday bookings by brand in Austria 2023
• Premium Statistic Car rental bookings by brand in Austria 2023

Attitudes towards traveling in Austria 2023

Attitudes towards traveling in Austria as of December 2023

Travel frequency for private purposes in Austria 2023

Travel frequency for private purposes in Austria as of December 2023

Travel frequency for business purposes in Austria 2023

Travel frequency for business purposes in Austria as of December 2023

Travel product bookings in Austria 2023

Travel product bookings in Austria as of December 2023

Travel product online bookings in Austria 2023

Travel product online bookings in Austria as of December 2023

Hotel / private accommodation online bookings by brand in Austria 2023

Hotel / private accommodation online bookings by brand in Austria as of December 2023

Flight bookings by airline brand in Austria 2023

Flight bookings by airline brand in Austria as of December 2023

Package holiday bookings by brand in Austria 2023

Package holiday bookings by brand in Austria as of December 2023

Car rental bookings by brand in Austria 2023

Car rental bookings by brand in Austria as of December 2023

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International tourism, number of arrivals - Austria

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Tourism in Austria

Diverse cultural and tourism sector, development of the tourism sector in austria from 1995 to 2021.

Revenues from tourism

All data for Austria in detail

Austria - International tourism, number of arrivals

The value for International tourism, number of arrivals in Austria was 15,091,000 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 25 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 31,884,000 in 2019 and a minimum value of 15,091,000 in 2020.

Definition: International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.

Source: World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.

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Development Relevance: Tourism is officially recognized as a directly measurable activity, enabling more accurate analysis and more effective policy. Whereas previously the sector relied mostly on approximations from related areas of measurement (e.g. Balance of Payments statistics), tourism today possesses a range of instruments to track its productive activities and the activities of the consumers that drive them: visitors (both tourists and excursionists). An increasing number of countries have opened up and invested in tourism development, making tourism a key driver of socio-economic progress through export revenues, the creation of jobs and enterprises, and infrastructure development. As an internationally traded service, inbound tourism has become one of the world's major trade categories. For many developing countries it is one of the main sources of foreign exchange income and a major component of exports, creating much needed employment and development opportunities.

Limitations and Exceptions: Tourism can be either domestic or international. The data refers to international tourism, where the traveler's country of residence differs from the visiting country. International tourism consists of inbound (arrival) and outbound (departures) tourism. The data are from the World Tourism Organization (WTO), a United Nations agency. The data on inbound and outbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals and departures, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival. The data on inbound tourism show the arrivals of nonresident tourists (overnight visitors) at national borders. When data on international tourists are unavailable or incomplete, the data show the arrivals of international visitors, which include tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Statistical information on tourism is based mainly on data on arrivals and overnight stays along with balance of payments information. These data do not completely capture the economic phenomenon of tourism or provide the information needed for effective public policies and efficient business operations. Data are needed on the scale and significance of tourism. Information on the role of tourism in national economies is particularly deficient. Although the World Tourism Organization reports progress in harmonizing definitions and measurement, differences in national practices still prevent full comparability. Arrivals data measure the flows of international visitors to the country of reference: each arrival corresponds to one in inbound tourism trip. If a person visits several countries during the course of a single trip, his/her arrival in each country is recorded separately. In an accounting period, arrivals are not necessarily equal to the number of persons travelling (when a person visits the same country several times a year, each trip by the same person is counted as a separate arrival). Arrivals data should correspond to inbound visitors by including both tourists and same-day non-resident visitors. All other types of travelers (such as border, seasonal and other short-term workers, long-term students and others) should be excluded as they do not qualify as visitors. Data are obtained from different sources: administrative records (immigration, traffic counts, and other possible types of controls), border surveys or a mix of them. If data are obtained from accommodation surveys, the number of guests is used as estimate of arrival figures; consequently, in this case, breakdowns by regions, main purpose of the trip, modes of transport used or forms of organization of the trip are based on complementary visitor surveys.

Aggregation method: Gap-filled total

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Private Sector & Trade Indicators

Sub-Topic: Travel & tourism

Note: This page was last updated on December 28, 2019

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Austria Tourism

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Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Regionen und Tourismus. 2020. Tourismus Österreich 2019 . Vienna: Bundesministerium für Landwirtschaft, Regionen und Tourismus.

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Bundesministerium für Nachhaltigkeit und Tourismus. 2019. Plan T – Masterplan für Tourismus . Vienna: Bundesministerium für Nachhaltigkeit und Tourismus. https://www.bmlrt.gv.at/tourismus/masterplan_tourismus.html .

Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Familie und Jugend. 2010. Neue Wege im Tourismus. Die neue österreichische Tourismusstrategie . Vienna: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Familie und Jugend.

Laimer, P. 2021. Tourism’s sustainability and its measurement in Austria . UNECE, Regional Forum: Transforming tourism for a sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive post COVID-19 world, Geneva, March 11, 2021.

Statistik Austria. 2021. The information manager. https://www.statistik.at/web_en/statistics/index.html

UNWTO. 2020. UNWTO world tourism barometer and statistical annex, august/September 2020 . Madrid: World Tourism Organization.

Wirtschaftskammer Österreich. 2021. Tourismus und Freizeitwirtschaft in Zahlen. Österreichische und international Tourismus- und Wirtschaftsdaten , Ausgabe 57, Wien: WKO.

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Andreas Zins

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Honggen Xiao

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Zins, A. (2023). Austria Tourism. In: Jafari, J., Xiao, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_509-3

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_509-3

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• Annual Report 2022

Vienna's Tourism In Numbers

Market and marketing research are at the heart of the Vienna Tourist Board’s strategic operations. As a direct result of the pandemic, demand for – and the availability of – data, studies, webinars and other sources of information for the industry has mushroomed over the past few years. It is safe to assume that this will also be the case in 2023 and beyond.

In 2022, the Vienna Tourist Board once again evaluated visitor satisfaction levels with a view to improving the visitor experience on the basis of the T-MONA survey, which comprised around 1,700 online interviews (due to the substantially lower number of tourist arrivals in the first half of the year, the number of interviews was correspondingly lower than it had been in previous years). Ongoing monitoring of attitudes to tourism among the Viennese population was back to full strength in 2022, with around 3,600 of the city’s residents participating in an online survey during the year. The result: nine out of ten Viennese residents have a favorable view of tourism in the city – a figure that remained stable throughout the pandemic.

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Austria Tourism Statistics

At: international tourism: expenditures, view austria's at: international tourism: expenditures from 1995 to 2020 in the chart:.

AT: International Tourism: Expenditures: % of Total Imports

View austria's at: international tourism: expenditures: % of total imports from 2005 to 2020 in the chart:.

AT: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items

View austria's at: international tourism: expenditures: for travel items from 1995 to 2020 in the chart:.

AT: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals

View austria's at: international tourism: number of arrivals from 1995 to 2020 in the chart:.

AT: International Tourism: Number of Departures

View austria's at: international tourism: number of departures from 2000 to 2020 in the chart:.

AT: International Tourism: Receipts

View austria's at: international tourism: receipts from 1995 to 2020 in the chart:.

AT: International Tourism: Receipts: % of Total Exports

View austria's at: international tourism: receipts: % of total exports from 2005 to 2020 in the chart:.

AT: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items

View austria's at: international tourism: receipts: for travel items from 1995 to 2020 in the chart:.

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Tourism in Austria – 40+ statistics, numbers and trends

Updated on November 6, 2023 by Axel Hernborg

Austria is a giant in tourism . Almost 30 million international visitors visit Austria each year. The country has a spotless reputation as a top travel destination and is recognized as the “ most tourism-friendly ” by the World Economic Forum .

Martin Winkler, CEO of Austria’s leading private-sector tourism player, Verkehrsbüro Group explained that nearly 10% of Austria’s inhabitants are directly or indirectly working in tourism. Tourism is an important sector of the Austrian economy, and it’s a growing sector. After Cyprus , Austria ranks second in the European Union in terms of tourism revenues in proportion to the population .

Here, we explain some of the top trends and statistics in the Austrian Tourism industry.

Table of contents

• 1 Covid-19 and Tourism Industry
• 2 Pre- and Post-pandemic trends and statistics
• 3 Contribution of Tourism in Austria
• 4 Tourism Industry Insight
• 5 Other Tourist-related Trends
• 6 References

Covid-19 and Tourism Industry

Like many other industries, the Austrian tourism industry is adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the lockdown in spring 2020 , overnight stays in Austria dropped by almost 100%. Over the summer, tourism activity recovered strongly with domestic and German tourists. But it still remained clearly below 2019 levels. In October 2020, there was again an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections and this situation led to another severe downturn in Austrian tourism, as several neighboring countries also posted travel warnings at that time. On November 2, 2020 , a second lockdown started in Austria – accommodation establishments and restaurants were closed. Despite all the severity of Covid-19, Austria is on the way to its recovery and welcoming tourists again in Austria.

Pre- and Post-pandemic trends and statistics

• Tourism is an important industry for the economy of Austria and it contributed 7.5 % to the GDP in the pre-crisis year 2019 .
• According to the Austrian Tourism Satellite Account, domestic and foreign guests spent around 37.7 billion euros in 2019 while in 2020 , the spending decreased to 26.5 billion euros .
• Now in 2022, the “3-G” rule ( vaccinated/recovered or tested ) for arrivals to Austria is lifted on May 16, 2022 .
• There are currently no COVID-19-related entry restrictions in effect for Austria.
• During the stay, FFP 2   masks  are  no longer mandatory in essential s hops and when using  public transport  in all Austrian federal provinces  except for Vienna.
• In  Vienna  only,  FFP 2 masks remain compulsory  on  public transport  and in  pharmacies .
• Children under the age of 6 are exempt , those from 6 to 13 can wear a regular mask while FFP2 masks are mandatory from the age of 14.
• The Austrian Ministry for Tourism has revealed that the number of Austrians carrying out trips domestically has substantially increased, reaching a total of 9.5 million vacation trips with more than one overnight stay.
• In 2021 , a total of 16.1 million trips spent by Austrian residents were recorded, with the number showing an increase of 27.5% compared to the previous year when Austrians carried out a total of 12.6 million vacations .

Contribution of Tourism in Austria

• The direct value-added effect of tourism on the Austrian economy in 2018 is calculated to be EUR 25 billion (excluding business trips), or 6.5% of GDP , according to the Austrian Tourism Satellite Account (TSA ).
• Based on the TSA , some 244 000 full-time job equivalents were directly attributed to tourism-related industries in 2017 .
• Tourism contributes 6.4% of overall employment in Austria .
• Travel exports represented 30.9% of total service exports in 2018 .
• The number of international tourist arrivals in all accommodation establishments (commercial and private) was 30.8 million in 2018 , which was up 4.6% over 2017.
• The number of bednights amounted to 110.4 million (up 4.2%).
• The fastest-growing source markets compared with 2017 were Germany (up 2.7 million bednights), the Netherlands (up 0.3 million), and the Czech Republic (up 0.2 million).
• Declines were registered from Switzerland and Liechtenstein ( down 89 000 bednights ), Italy (down 35 000 ), and Turkey (down 21 000 ).
• Income from inbound tourism totalled EUR 19.5 billion , a rise of 7.4%.
• Spending by Austrian residents abroad also increased by 7.3% to EUR 10.1 billion.
• Domestic tourist arrivals in paid accommodation totalled 14.0 million in 2018 (up 3.0%) with 39.4 million bednights registered (up 2.2%).
• Record highs were registered during both the winter and summer seasons of 2018 with 5 . 9   million and 8.2 million arrivals respectively.
• In 2020 , Austria recorded a total of 15 million tourists .
• In 2020 , Austria was ranked 18th in the world in absolute terms.
• By putting the tourist numbers in relation to the population of Austria, the country is ranked 32nd in the world with 1.7 tourists per resident .
• In Western Europe , Austria ranked 3rd .
• Austria generated around 15.36 billion US dollars in the tourism sector alone.
• Austrian tourism contributed 3.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP ) and approximately 18% of all international tourism receipts in Western Europe .
• The most popular city in Austria for international travelers is Vienna .
• In 2019 , Vienna reached 39th place among the world’s most popular cities with 6.63 million tourists .

Tourism Industry Insight

• Due to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine , the Austrian tourism industry is once again characterized by a high degree of uncertainty . ‘
• The war in Ukraine is expected to have a negative impact on the overall demand for vacations in Austria .
• The price increases in many countries are also expected to restrict travellers’ budgets , thus causing the positive trend to drop.
• Each year the World Economic Forum selects the best tourism destinations and evaluates the attractiveness and development potential of approx. 140 countries and Austria is rated an outstanding twelve in the world .
• In terms of its tourist service infrastructure , Austria is even ranked number one globally by the World Economic Forum .
• Numerous international investors, from Starwood, Falkensteiner, Hilton, and Steigenberger to Motel One Group, Accor, and Landal Green Parks, already profit from the culture, scenery, and highly qualified employees in Austria.
• Over 90% of hotels in Austria are family-run .
• Other than university courses of study and private universities, there are more than 40 study programs at universities of applied sciences and 28 schools offer an education in the field of tourism with guaranteed quality .
• Every tenth trainee in Austria works in the tourism sector .

Other Tourist-related Trends

• The snow-capped peaks of the Austrian Central Alps attract several tourists passionate about ski and winter sports every year and are quintessentially Austrian.
• The concert culture is still prevalent  throughout the country, where music lovers can tour a collection of concert halls and attend many free concerts across the main cities such as Vienna and Salzburg.
• From exciting ski trips and stunning Christmas markets in winter to relaxing summer strolls across the dreamy shores of lakes in the summertime, Austria is an ideal destination all year round.
• Austria is one of the cleanest and greenest places in the world .
• Austria is renowned for its Christmas markets , all those night markets set up amid swirling snow and fairy lights, ensconced within fragrances of coffees and ales and mulled wines and gingerbread.
• Austria is the dream destination for exploring architectural sites .
• Austria is considered the heart of the European musical scene and Salzburg is one of the best examples.
• ZOOM Children’s Museum is one of the best tourist places to visit with children where they can investigate, marvel at, and participate in numerous exhibitions and events at this fabulous museum.
• Visitors would love to visit Dachstein Caves where they can discover the  fairytale world of the Ice Cave and follow in the footsteps of the cave researchers  through the  Mammut Cave  and the Koppenbrüller Cave on their trip to Dachstein in Salzkammergut .
• Visitors also love to visit Hallstatt Salt Mine to experience an exciting escapade through the  oldest salt mine in the world.
• Any family holiday in Carinthia (Austria) needs to account for a stop at the Obir Stalactite Caves , which is a  fascinating natural wonder.
• Whether it’s alpine or downhill – skiing has been the most popular sport in Austria for more than 100 years.
•  The  Austrian National Library in Vienna is home to more than 2 million books and is one of the world’s major libraries.
• The single highest-selling energy drink on the planet “ Red Bull ” was created in Austria .
• Austria is always among the countries with the highest standard of living in the world.

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/5c26359f-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/5c26359f-en

https://www.worlddata.info/europe/austria/tourism.php#:~:text=Tourism%20in%20Austria,number%20of%20guests%2C%20is%20obvious .

https://info.bmlrt.gv.at/en/topics/tourism/tourism-statistics.html#:~:text=Tourism%20is%20an%20important%20industry,2020%3A%2026.5%20billion%20euros ).

https://ideas.repec.org/a/onb/oenbmp/y2021iq4-20-q1-21b2.html

https://www.austria.info/en/service-and-facts/coronavirus-information

https://www.austria.org/current-travel-information

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/over-16-million-austrians-went-on-trips-in-2021-domestic-tourism-surpassed-2019-levels/

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/austrias-tourism-sector-recovered-quickly-but-now-faces-new-uncertainties/

https://investinaustria.at/en/sectors/tourism/

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Home > Blog > Statistics > Latest Austria Travel Statistics & Data

Latest Austria Travel Statistics & Data

on 21 Oct, 2022

Last updated: October 21, 2022, by Grant Thomas 

🔖Cite this webpage (Thomas, Grant. “Latest Austria Travel Statistics & Data”. visasassociation.com, October 21, 2022, https://visasassociation.com/statistics/austria-travel-statistics ) 

Note : The latest Schengen Visa and travel statistics available about Austria are for 2021. We will update this page as soon as 2022 travel data and statistics on Austria are available.     

Highlights : Latest Statistics on Travel and Tourism in Austria 

• In 2021, the number of Schengen Visa applications for Austria dropped by 0.9% compared to 2020. 
• In 2021, the number of Schengen Visa applications for Austria dropped by 86% compared to the pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
• In 2021, the approval rate for the Schengen Visa for Austria was 90.1% .  
• In 2021, Austria recorded a drop of 34.6% in arrivals at tourist accommodation establishments compared to 2020.
• In 2021, Austria recorded a drop of 36.6% in overnight stays at tourist accommodation establishments compared to 2020.
• In 2021, Austria recorded a drop of 18.5% in the number of overnight stays compared to 2020.
• Nights spent in Austria in 2021 were 73.1 million below the pre-pandemic level.
• In 2021, the number of nights spent by international guests fell by 55.7% compared to 2019.

Tourism in Austria remains far below pre-pandemic levels

Despite the ease of travel restrictions and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, the effects of the pandemic continued to have a strong impact on the tourism industry in Austria in 2021. 

This means that the number of nights spent dropped by 18.32 million compared to 2020 and fell back to the 1970 levels.

The decline of Austrian tourism in 2021 is mostly attributed to closures in the first four months of the year and the month of November. 

However, an increase in the number of nights spent in December 2021 has provided some relief to the country. 

During the winter season, Austria recorded an increase of 5.37 million in the number of nights spent by domestic and international visitors. That’s eight times more compared to the same month in 2020 when the country was under strict lockdown. 

Despite the significant increase in the number of nights spent in December 2021, the numbers achieved remained far below the pre-crisis level. 

Compared to December 2019, the number of nights spent by domestic and international guests in Austria at the end of 2021 was almost half lower (-46.2%).

• In 2021, Austria received 4,511 or 89% fewer Schengen Visa applications from China compared to 2020.
• In 2021, Austria received 99.4% fewer Schengen Visa applications from China compared to 2019.
• In 2021, Austria received 9,650 Schengen Visa applications from Russia which represents 21.6% of the total number of applications.
• In 2021, Austria recorded 79,56 million international and domestic overnight stays, a drop of 18,32 million or 18.5% compared to 2020.
• In 2021, Austria recorded 22,14 million international and domestic tourist arrivals, a drop of 2,89 million or 11.5% compared to 2020.
• In 2021, the nights spent by visitors from Germany, the most important source for Austria, fell by 24.6% compared to 2020.
• In 2021, German visitors spent 24.6 million fewer nights ( -43.4% ) in Austria than in 2019.
• In 2021, resident visitors spent 1.99 million or 6.3% fewer nights in Austria compared to 2020.
• In 2021, the nights spent by visitors from the Netherlands in Austria fell by 41.4% .
• In 2021, Austria recorded 71.6% fewer nights spent in Vienna compared to 2020.
• Vienna recorded the highest decrease in the number of nights spent by resident visitors in 2021 compared to 2019 ( -54.2% ).
• Carinthia recorded the lowest decrease in the number of nights spent by resident visitors in 2021 compared to 2019 ( -1.7% ).
• In 2021, the number of nights spent by international guests in Vienna fell by 75.3% compared to 2019.
• In 2021, the number of nights spent in 1 and 2-star accommodation establishments in Austria dropped by 23% compared to 2020. 
• In 2021, the number of nights spent in 3-star accommodation establishments in Austria dropped by 19.8% compared to 2020. 
• In 2021, the number of nights spent in 4 and 5-star accommodation establishments in Austria dropped by 13% compared to 2020. 
• In 2021, the total contribution of travel and tourism to the GDP in Austria was 28.8 billion euros, a drop of 34% compared to 2019.
• In 2021, the travel and tourism industry in Austria generated nearly 463 thousand jobs.
• In 2021, Austria recorded the highest tourism intensity since 2015 ( 65.6% ).
• International tourism receipts in Austria amounted to 10.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, a drop of 22% compared to 2020.
• In 2021, the markets that generated the highest international tourism receipts for Austria were Germany ( 4,714 million euros) and Switzerland ( 546 million euros). 
• In 2021, Austria generated 22% fewer travel receipts from Germany compared to 2020.
• In 2021, international tourism expenditure in Austria amounted to 6,245 million euros, an increase of 2,329 million euros ( 37% ) compared to 2020.  
• In 2021, Austria generated 57% of the total international tourism expenditure during the third quarter of the year.
• In 2021, Austria ranked no. 13 for the number of Schengen Visa applications received.
• In 2021, the average length of stay for trips to Austria taken by residents was 3.2 nights.
• In 2021, the average length of stay for trips to Austria taken by non-residents was 3.9 nights.
• In 2021, the direct value added of tourism in Austria amounted to 12.31 billion euros, a drop of 43% compared to 2019.

Schengen Visa Applications & Tourism in Austria – Latest Trends

Austria’s schengen visa approval rate from 2015 to 2021, countries that submitted the highest number of schengen visa applications for austria from 2015 to 2021, total number of international and domestic overnight stays in austria from 2015 to 2021, international and domestic overnight stays in austria from 2015 to 2021, international and domestic tourist arrivals in austria from 2015 to 2021, international tourism expenditure in austria from 2015 to 2021, travel intensity in austria from 2015 to 2021, international tourism receipts in austria from 2015 to 2021, top 5 countries that submitted the highest number of schengen visa applications for austria in 2021, approval rates for the countries that submitted the highest number of schengen visa applications for austria in 2021, top 5 third countries that had the lowest rejection rates for the schengen visa for austria in 2021, top 5 third countries that had the highest rejection rates for the schengen visa for austria in 2021, sources:  .

European Commission – Statistics on short-stay visas issued by the Schengen States  

EUROSTAT – Tourism Database  

EUROSTAT – Tourism Statistics  

Statista – Travel and tourism in Austria – statistics & facts  

Statistik.at – Tourism

Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) – Tourism Statistics  

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ANTO is the national tourism marketing organisation. It is funded by the Ministry ( more than 3/4 ) and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. ANTO cooperates closely with the Austrian tourism industry, including the tourist boards of the Federal Provinces and tourism businesses.

ANTO's responsibilities are market research, brand management, marketing, networking and information provision. It serves as a knowledge hub for the Austrian tourism ecosystem. Its mission is further to inspire worldwide enthusiasm for vacations in Austria, to provide benefits for the tourism industry in the country and run customised image campaigns. The activities focus on three main geographical areas: Western Europe, Central & Eastern Europe and Overseas. ANTO operates 21 offices worldwide, it covers 28 inbound markets and nine potential future markets.

ANTO's website serves as an information point for guests and businesses and is available in 20 languages.

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International tourist figures still millions below pre-COVID levels as slow recovery continues

For two years, Marcela Ribeiro worked three jobs to save for her dream holiday to Australia.

Like millions of people across the globe, the 35-year-old from Brazil had long wanted to explore the country's world-famous destinations, specifically the Great Barrier Reef, World Heritage-listed rainforest and sandy beaches. 

"I worked really, really hard, many jobs, to get here," Ms Ribeiro said.  

"The flights were very expensive, so I have to watch everything I spend. I can't afford to eat out in the restaurants every day." 

It's been a similar story for William Grbava from Canada and Amelia Mondido from the Philippines, who last week arrived in Australia for a holiday. 

"It's expensive here, much more than we were expecting. We have only been able to factor in a short stop in Sydney," Mr Grbava said. 

"We just had a beer and a pizza in Circular Quay for $50.

 "What I really wanted to do was drive up the coast to Brisbane, through Byron Bay and those beautiful towns. That's what I did when I was younger. But with the cost of fuel and car rental, it wasn't possible." 

Industry yet to recover to pre-COVID levels 

It's been more than four years since Australia's borders suddenly closed to the rest of the world and became one of the most isolated destinations on the globe. 

COVID-19 wreaked havoc across the country's economy, but nowhere was the pain as instant or more devastating as in the tourism industry. 

In 2019, 8.7 million tourists visited Australia from overseas in an industry that was worth $166 billion. 

New figures from Tourism Research Australia show there were only 6.6 million international visitors last year, a deficit of more than 2 million compared to 2019 levels.  

Victoria experienced the largest loss in international visits at 33 per cent, followed by Queensland at 24 per cent and New South Wales at 22 per cent. 

Nationally, Chinese visitor numbers — which made up the bulk of visitors to Australia pre-pandemic — slumped to 507,000 last year, down from 1.3 million in 2019. 

Figures for the month of February show more than 850,000 people visited Australia, an increase of 257,000 for the same time in 2023, but 7.5 per cent less than pre-COVID levels. 

Gui Lohmann from Griffith University's Institute for Tourism said there were a number of reasons for the slow return of international visitors. 

"The airfares are significantly high and we are under an inflationary situation with labour and food costs," Professor Lohmann said. 

"It could be challenging for Australia to reach above 8 million international visitors in the scenario we are in at the moment." 

Professor Lohmann said cost-of-living pressures were also at play in the return of international tourists, as was a "reset" in European thinking.  

"Many Europeans believe a long-haul trip is quite damaging to the environment and they're also flying less generally," he said. 

"Their domestic airline routes no longer exist [and] have been replaced by train trips." 

He said China's ongoing economic problems, the war in Ukraine and United States' election were also having an impact.  

"It's a much more complicated world we are facing after the pandemic," he said. 

A long road to recovery 

Oxford Economics has forecast it could take until 2025-26 before Australian tourism returned to pre-pandemic levels. 

Tourism Australia, a government agency that promotes holidays, said the strongest markets since borders reopened had been New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom. 

"We always knew that the recovery of international travel to Australia would take time, and we have continued to see the steady return of international visitors to our shores," a spokeswoman said. 

Maneka Jayasinghe, a tourism expert at Charles Darwin University, said affordability was a key factor in attracting visitors Down Under.  

She said the state and federal governments should consider subsidising travel to Australia. 

"Measures to reduce costs, such as discounted hotel prices, tourism package deals and food vouchers could be of importance to encourage visitors to Australia," Dr Jayasinghe said. 

"Tourism operators were badly hit during COVID so may not be in a financially viable position to provide further perks to visitors, especially the small-scale operators in smaller states and territories and those operating in remote areas." 

She said re-establishing links with traditional tourism markets, including Japan, was also a potential solution. 

"Countries with a rapidly growing middle class, such as India, could have high potential to grow. Some of the south-east Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Indonesia, could also be attractive due to their proximity to Australia." 

Dutch tourists Tim Erentsen and Laleh Maleki estimated it would cost them around $16,000 for their three-week holiday in Australia, where they are visiting Sydney, the Whitsundays and Cairns. 

"It has been expensive, especially the flights," Mr Erentsen said. 

Ms Maleki said the couple had travelled extensively throughout Europe and the US and the cost of hotels and food in Australia was comparable. 

"We thought if we were coming all this way and spending the money to get here, we should stay a bit longer, which is adding to the cost," Ms Maleki said. 

But despite that extra cost, she said the trip had been worth it. 

"We love the nature, it feels very safe here. The food is so good and the people are very friendly." 

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