Winter Tourism in Austria Achieves Record Growth Amid Economic Challenges

In a remarkable turn of events, Austria's winter tourism sector has recorded an unprecedented achievement during the 2024/25 season, reaching a total of 72.25 million overnight stays. This figure surpasses the previous record by 1.6%, indicating a robust rebound in the industry.

The number of visitors also saw a significant increase, totaling 20.55 million, which reflects a 2.8% rise compared to the last season. Elisabeth Zehetner, the State Secretary for Tourism, expressed her satisfaction with the positive trends reported by Statistics Austria, emphasizing the importance of tourism as a vital pillar of the national economy.

Zehetner highlighted the necessity of providing long-term strategies to support the industry, particularly in areas concerning workforce sustainability and regional economic growth. She noted that the government is committed to enhancing initiatives such as Plan T and introducing new funding programs aimed at ensuring the survival and success of small family-run businesses within the tourism sector.

The statistics also reveal a noteworthy distribution of overnight stays across the federal states, with Tyrol and Salzburg collectively accounting for nearly 58% of the total winter tourism figures at 41.86 million overnight stays. Vienna, in particular, demonstrated impressive growth, boasting a 10.3% increase in visitor numbers.

Germany continues to be the leading source of tourists, with 25.90 million overnight stays recorded, followed by the Netherlands with 6.83 million, and domestic travelers contributing 16.50 million stays. The peak travel months of January and February accounted for a substantial 46% of the season's total, with 33.21 million overnight stays.

Zehetner cautioned that such growth is not automatic but rather the result of a dedicated and high-performing industry. To sustain this upward trend, she stressed the need for targeted incentives and collaborative efforts among all stakeholders involved in the tourism value chain.

As the winter tourism season draws to a close, the focus remains on strategic planning and fostering partnerships that can further enhance the sector's resilience and adaptability in the face of future challenges.