Vienna International Tourism Industry News
Read the latest headlines about developments in the tourism industry in Vienna and Austria
Asia's Largest Airline to Fly to Vienna
From 18 June 2019, China's largest airline, China Southern Airlines, will fly three times a week from Guangzhou to Vienna via the capital Ürümqi (Wūlǔmùqí) in Xinjiang, China's most northwestern province. Xinjiang has made international headlines in the last two years due to massive human rights violations. China may have interned more than a million Uighurs, Turkic-speaking Muslims, in an attempt to suppress their desire for greater autonomy.
May 2, 2019
Development of Tourism and Travel in Austria
Currently the Austrian economy is in a phase of extraordinarily strong growth. More than 16 million holidays were taken last year. However, the current economic upturn seems to have passed its peak. Read the following article to find out how the development of tourism and travel in Austria will continue in the current year.
April 25, 2019
Congress Tourism in Vienna Continues to Boom
Vienna as a congress destination is booming. Last year, the metropolis achieved record figures for conference participants and added value. Around 631,000 participants (plus three percent) attended 4,685 congresses and company events (plus 15 percent), which resulted in 1,925,000 overnight stays (plus three percent). A single congress participant spends 541 euros per day.
April 5, 2019
Danube Tower - Viennese Landmark Celebrates New Beginning
After the modernisation, revitalisation and expansion of the Danube Tower (Wiener Donauturm) by the Blaguss Group for more than ten million euros and the creation of 30 new jobs and a new e-shuttle, the tower was reopened. The restaurant, located at a height of 170 metres, offers a fantastic view over Vienna and turns every dinner and celebration into a unique experience.
March 27, 2019
Austria to Become Most Sustainable Tourism Destination in the World
Sustainability Minister Elisabeth Köstinger presented the "Plan T - Master Plan for Tourism" in Salzburg. This strategy paper is intended to ensure that Austria not only remains one of the leading tourist destinations, but that this position is further strengthened. For the first time sustainability is anchored as a basic principle for tourism. The strategic realignment of Österreich Werbung (ANTO Austrian National Tourist Office) is also on the agenda.
March 26, 2019
Tourism Location - Austrian National Tourist Office Invests in Digitalization
ÖW Österreich Werbung (ANTO Austrian National Tourist Office) sees very good chances in the dynamic of digitisation for the domestic tourism location to assert itself as a quality destination in global competition.
March 22, 2019
Hub to the Far East - ÖBB Rail Cargo and Port of Trieste Strengthen Cooperation
At a critical time when the question of Italian economic independence from China is being discussed throughout Europe, ÖBB's Rail Cargo Group is intensifying its cooperation with the port of Trieste in order, among other things, to be able to use the transport connection of the Adriatic port to the Far East.
March 22, 2019
Austrian Airlines Responds to Low-Cost Carriers with Low Fares
Austrian Airlines takes up a stance against low-cost competition at Vienna Airport. On the one hand, flights to Germany, such as Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Berlin, will be increased from April onwards. Paris and Copenhagen are to follow in May. On the other hand, prices are to be reduced.
March 22, 2019
Ryanair's Austrian Subsidiary Laudamotion Renamed to Lauda
The Austrian Ryanair subsidiary, the low-cost airline Laudamotion, has separated from the name "Motion" for marketing reasons and is now called only "Lauda". In addition, the fleet will be expanded and more destinations will be served.
March 22, 2019
Austria as an Attractive Cycling Destination - You like it? Bike it!
At the international tourism trade fair 2019 in Berlin, Austria presents itself above all as an attractive cycling holiday destination. At the centre of the trade fair appearance: the cycling campaign "You Like it? Bike it!"
March 7, 2019
Emir of Qatar Struggling for Survival Visited Vienna
The 38 year old Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who 5 years ago ascended the throne as successor of his father Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and is now fighting under pressure of his neighbours, especially Saudi Arabia, for the survival of his monarchy, came to an official visit to Austria to talk about business.
March 7, 2019
Austria is Booming with Chinese Tourists - Number of Overnight Stays Six Times Higher
In tourism, China is currently one of the most dynamically growing foreign markets of origin. In the 2018 calendar year, the number of overnight stays by Chinese guests in Austria increased almost sixfold (+491%) compared to 2008, reaching around 1.4 million overnight stays.
February 28, 2019
Overseas Chinese in Vienna Celebrate Spring Festival and Start of Year of the Earth Pig
The Chinese Ambassador to Austria, H.E. Li Xiaosi and the Director General of UNIDO, Mr. Li Yong, toasted the Chinese New Year together with Mayor Ludwig and other Viennese Overseas Chinese.
February 13, 2019
Austrian-Israeli Economic Relations - 20% Increase in Exports
On the occasion of the official state visit of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and the accompanying business delegation of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the issue of the actual state of economic relations has arisen. The Austrian-Israeli foreign trade volume amounted to 568 million euros in 2017, with a trade balance surplus for Austria of 229 million euros. The Chamber of Commerce reports that Austrian exports to Israel increased by 20.3% in 2017. The trend seems to have continued in 2018. More than 600,000 overnight stays by Israeli tourists make Israel one of the top nations in Austrian tourism statistics.
February 4, 2019
Irish Ryanair Acquires Austrian Laudamotion Completely
The Austrian Niki-Airline successor Laudamotion has now been taken over 100% by Ryanair. Ryanair last held three quarters of the shares of Laudamotion. No information was given about the price for the remaining 25 percent.
January 29, 2019
Hallstatt App 2.0 - Protective Measures against Chinese Tourists
The Upper Austrian community defends itself against too many tourists, especially from China and South Korea. Since the Chinese built an exact copy of the city in Guangdong Province, and the South Koreans partly shot a soap opera in Hallstatt, the popularity of the Dachstein community has increased enormously. As a result, more and more tourists come to Hallstatt as part of a bus tour classic with 4 destinations including Hallstatt. In the previous year there were exactly 19,344 coaches. For the first time in the history of Austria, a town is now defending its friendly visitors by implementing the new "Traffic Concept Hallstatt 2018" and by strictly controlling the entrance to the town centre.
January 29, 2019
Vienna Airport Surpasses 27 Million Passengers for the First Time
Vienna International Airport was able to handle 27 million passengers for the first time last year, a year-on-year increase of 10.8%. The top destinations were London, Moscow and Bangkok. 74 airlines serve 205 destinations in 71 countries. In the ranking of airlines as measured by their share of overall passenger volume, Austrian Airlines was followed by Eurowings (incl. Germanwings), the easyJet Group, Lufthansa and Laudamotion. The increase in the number of passengers in 2019 is estimated at 10%.
January 28, 2019
Austrian Tourism: 45 Mio. Arrivals and 150 Mio. Overnight Stays in 2018 - Germans Return
With 149.75 million overnight stays in Austrian accommodation establishments, a new record was reached in 2018. Compared to the previous year, overnight stays increased by 5.25 million (+3.6%). At +5.0% (56.26 million), the number of overnight stays by Germans rose disproportionately strongly.
January 24, 2019
New Twin City Liner to Connect the Danube Metropolises of Vienna and Bratislava
A new, larger and more modern fast catamaran will be operating between Vienna and Bratislava with the start of the season on 29 March 2019.
January 19, 2019
Hollywood in Austria's Mountains - Avalanche Drama Film Follows Current Avalanche Danger
In Tyrol, a Hollywood drama about a married couple whose perfectly believed family life gets completely out of balance when they barely escape an avalanche is currently in the making. Austrian film funding supports the production of "Downhill" with Will Farell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. With a shooting time of 8 weeks, an added value of 7 million Euros and 10,000 overnight stays is expected.
January 18, 2019
Expansion and Modernization of Hilton Vienna am Stadtpark
The Hilton Vienna Parkview, the third-largest Hilton Hotel in Europe with a total usable space of around 50,000 square metres on a total of fifteen floors, is being developed and comprehensively modernised by the Vienna Invester Group as a developer and Hilton International while it continues to operate. The modernisation work will start at the beginning of 2019 and completion is scheduled for the end of 2020. With the completion of the expansion, the current capacity of 579 rooms is to be expanded to 660 rooms. So far, no information has been provided on the investment sum.
December 14, 2018
Japan's Largest Airline ANA Expands Service Between Tokyo and Vienna
The Japanese ANA - All Nippon Airways relies on Vienna as its European hub for business flights to Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Poland and is expanding its range of services as a result of the facilitation provided by the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
October 31, 2018
Austrian Airlines - More Women in the Cockpit and Daily Flights to Tokyo
Become one of the few female pilots at Austrian Airlines. A total of 100 fully-trained pilots are currently being sought. As part of its expansion, Lufthansa's subsidiary intends to significantly increase the proportion of women pilots. The airline is also expanding its services to Tokyo, namely six weekly flights from March 2019 and daily flights during the 2019 summer timetable.
October 25, 2018
Canada: New Daily Flight Connection from 2019
From 29 April 2019, Austrian Airlines will be flying daily to Montreal, the second-most populous municipality in Canada. Air Canada will assume flights on the Vienna-Toronto route.
October 22, 2018
International Day of the Girl: Austria Center Vienna Illuminated in Pink
The Austria Center Vienna and the Austrian Presidency of the Council sent a signal on the International Day of the Girl and illuminated the Austria Center Vienna (ACV) pink in the evening. At the same time, inside the Center with the conference "Gender Equality and YOU. Young Voices. Joint Initiative" and the informal meeting of the EU Ministers for Gender Equality, important gender equality events took place within the framework of the EU Council Presidency.
October 12, 2018 · Sponsored Content
Agressive Southern Chinese Airline Launches Shenzhen-Vienna Service
The South Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines is pushing ahead with its expansion into Europe by adding Vienna - Shenzhen as the next non-stop route after Zurich at the end of August. The new twice-weekly flights will take off on October 20th, connecting Vienna with Shenzhen on Thursdays and Saturdays using the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft (see picture).
October 12, 2018
Outlook - Chinese Tourists and the Destination Austria
With around 900,000 arrivals (+23%) and 1.3 million overnight stays (+25%) in 2017, China is Austria's most important Asian market of origin with the greatest growth potential. From January to July 2018, Austria also recorded record figures with around 542,000 arrivals (+ 8.2) and around 781,000 overnight stays (+ 11.5 %) from China.
October 3, 2018 · Updated: October 11, 2018; 22:55
ACV Austria Center Vienna: More than 100,000 International Participants for the First Time
Last year, Austria’s largest congress centre brought more than 100,000 international participants to Vienna for the first time. The venue also once again exceeded the record revenue figure from the previous year.
September 26, 2018 · Sponsored Content
Expansion of Nepal-Austria Relations Beyond Mountaineering
Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali paid a working visit to Austria. The visit focused on bilateral relations and the opening of the embassy in November last year.
September 19, 2018
Bodyguard - The Musical at the Ronacher in Vienna
On 27 September 2018, the Austrian premiere of the successful international production "Bodyguard" will take place in Vienna's Ronacher, based on one of the greatest blockbusters of all time. Bodyguard replaces the cult musical "Dance of the Vampires", which recently celebrated its acclaimed Dernière.
September 14, 2018
Flight Connection Kuwait-Vienna Carries Arab-Israeli Conflict to Austria
State-owned Kuwait Airways, which will resume operations between Kuwait and Vienna in early June for the summer months, does not carry Israeli citizens. The official reason is a Kuwaiti law from 1964, which bans all companies of the 3.5 million inhabitant oil state from doing business with Israelis.
May 29, 2018
Austrian Airlines Celebrates 60th Birthday
Austrian Airlines Österreichische Luftverkehrs Aktiengesellschaft was founded on 31 March 1958. This week, 2,500 guests celebrated the 60th birthday of the red-white-red airline in the hangar at Vienna Schwechat Airport.
May 25, 2018
Austrian Airlines Flies Once Again to Tokyo
As of today, Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines will again be flying directly to the Japanese capital. Due to changed economic fundamentals, the route, which was closed in autumn 2016, appears to be profitable again.
May 15, 2018
Fresh Hallstatt Air Instead of Toxic Chinese Smoke
Tens of thousands of tourists from China meanwhile visit Hallstatt in Upper Austria every year. Two companies now offer healthy Hallstatt air in cans to the Chinese and expanded Asian market. The inhabitants and the municipal council of Hallstatt are not thrilled.
May 11, 2018
International Congresses: Vienna Worldwide Number Two - UN Events Contribute 7% of Conference Nights
The Vienna meetings industry progresses from record to record. With 186 meetings, Vienna remains behind Paris with 196 meetings, number 2 in the Worldwide Ranking of the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association). In the year prior to that, Vienna was still in fifth place. The proportion of congresses that can be allocated exclusively to the United Nations is enormous and accounts for around 7% of overnight stays.
April 24, 2018
Tourism: Vienna Achieves New Record Number of Overnight Stays
Vienna recorded a new tourist record in March with an increase of 8.5% compared to the previous year. The number of guest overnight stays rose to 1,169,000. Most of the tourists came from Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, the UK and Switzerland.
April 19, 2018
Austrian Budget Airline LaudaMotion: Fighting the Top Dog Lufthansa
LaudaMotion is to become a powerful low-cost airline. Ryanair ultimately intends to acquire a 75 percent stake. From June 2018, a total of 65 routes are to be served from Vienna, from seven German airports (Berlin/Tegel, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart) and from Zurich to the Mediterranean region and to the Canary Islands.
March 30, 2018
Eurowings also Expands Vienna Connections
With the summer flight schedule 2018 Eurowings, the discount airline subsidiary of Lufthansa, is adding new destinations from Vienna to Corfu, Larnaca, Catania, Chania, Kos, Heraklion and Rhodes.
March 30, 2018 · Sponsored Content
AUA Starts with Summer Flight Schedule 2018: More Flights to Germany, but CEE Remains Core Market
Austrian Airlines offers a flight program with 138 destinations in 55 countries in summer 2018.
March 26, 2018
Ryanair Acquires 75 Percent of LaudaMotion
The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is paying 100 million euros for the share. Ryanair will initially take over 24.9 percent of Laudamotion and intends to increase it to 75 percent, subject to the approval of the EU competition authority. The airline founder will continue to be in charge.
March 20, 2018
Austrian Airlines to Hire 600 New Employees, to Fly to Tokyo and Cape Town
Close to 12.9 million passengers flew with Austria’s national carrier last year, comprising a rise of 12.8 percent compared to the previous year. In 2018 the airline plans the integration of another long-haul aircraft, a Boeing 777-200 jet, in its fleet. It is planned to hire 150 employees just to operate this one new aircraft. In total about 200 pilots, 300 flight attendants and 100 employees in the fields of aircraft maintenance and ground handling will be hired. The additional capacity will enable Austrian Airlines to expand its intercontinental route network to Japan and South Africa.
March 1, 2018
Expansion of Airport City of Vienna International Airport Will Create More than 1,000 New Jobs
Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien AG) reports an improvement in the earnings outlook and projected traffic results for 2018. Net profit for the period before non-controlling interests is up to at least EUR 140 million, passenger growth of over 7% in the group and 5% at Vienna International Airport. The management board will propose to the Annual General Meeting that an increased dividend of EUR 0.68 per share should be distributed. Also, the expansion of the Airport City will create more than 1,000 new jobs. The Flughafen Wien Group, including its strategic foreign investments in Malta and Kosice Airports, anticipates passenger growth of more than 7% in 2018.
February 27, 2018
Salzburger Festspiele Generates EUR 215 Million Added Value per Year
The president of the Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele), Helga Rabl-Stadler, presented a new study proving the financial significance of the event. According to the study the festival generates added value of EUR 215 million per year in the whole country.
August 22, 2016
Most Expensive Expatriate Cities: Vienna Moves Up to 54th Place Overall in the Index
For the 22nd year running, global HR consulting firm Mercer has published its annual Cost of Living Ranking that lists the costliest and cheapest destinations for expatriates. Asia hosts five of the world’s 10 most expensive cities for expatriates. Hong Kong is once again the world’s most expensive city for expatriates. Vienna moves up to 54th place from 56th place overall in the index. 209 countries have been surveyed. See the full index below.
July 22, 2016
India Facilitates Visa Scheme for Austrian Travellers
India has extended e-Tourist Visa (e-TV) scheme to the citizens of Austria. Under e-Tourist Visa scheme, citizens of Austria may now apply online four days in advance to obtain the Electronic Travel Authorization for traveling to India.
June 27, 2016
Jazz Festival Brings Cyndi Lauper and Jamie Cullum to Vienna
The Vienna Jazz Festival, a fixed item in the annual festival series, offers more than the eponymous cool sound. Soul, funk, pop, electronic and ethnic sounds can also be enjoyed - and all in the best venues. From 28 June to 11 July, the Vienna Jazz Festival brings high-ranking stars such as Cyndi Lauper and Jamie Cullum to Vienna's stages.
June 14, 2016
Music and Culture Festival Draws 30,000 Guests to the Vienna Danube Canal
The three-day music and culture festival will draw about 30,000 guests to the Danube Canal in Vienna again for the tenth time, from 27 to 29 May 2016. The watercourse running through the city center, which is normally a popular local recreation area, becomes the stage for numerous live concerts by mostly Austrian Indie bands on this weekend.
April 29, 2016
Vienna Culinary Festival at the Vienna Stadtpark
At the beginning of May, the Vienna Stadtpark will be turned into a place of epicurean delights: The "Genussfestival" will be a showcase for select culinary specialties from Austria.
April 28, 2016
Long-Distance Coach Operator Flixbus to Compete with ÖBB Austrian Railways
Austrian state-run rail company ÖBB Austrian Railways is facing increasing competition of German mobility provider Flixbus which has just launched its third connection for Austria's regional capital cities, between Graz and Salzburg. In January 2016 FlixBus announced its entry to the markets of Central and Eastern Europe with the new branch FlixBus CEE. This includes six countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Croatia) with new lines in the making. () am
April 27, 2016
Summer Night Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
At the Summer Night Concert on 26 May the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra plays open-air in Schönbrunn Palace park and to the familiar high standard. What is unusual is that they play this concert, held each year since 2004, with free admission: it is a way for the famous ensemble to give around 100,000 visitors and the global TV audience a special experience.
April 27, 2016
