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Ambassador Qi Mei Promotes China at the 2026 Vienna Holiday Fair
The Vienna Holiday Fair 2026, which took place from January 15 to 18 at Messe Wien, had a special highlight this year: On Saturday, January 17, Chinese Ambassador Qi Mei visited the Chinese pavilion. Her visit focused on the massive easing of entry requirements for Austrian travelers and cultural exchange between the two nations.
January 25, 2026
Luxury Hotel Mandarin Oriental Opened in Vienna
The Austrian capital has seen growth in the luxury hotel sector. The first hotel in Austria belonging to the renowned Mandarin Oriental hotel group recently opened in the inner city. Located at Riemergasse 7 near Wollzeile, the hotel invites guests and locals alike to explore Vienna's art and culture in a central location.
October 30, 2025
Park Hyatt Vienna: Spanish Deal Fails, “Super Deal” with New Bidders Ahead?
Negotiations regarding the sale of the five-star Park Hyatt am Hof hotel in Vienna have broken down for the time being. A deal with the Spanish company Medcap Real Estate, which was rumored in September, failed due to the reported purchase price of €330 to €335 million.
October 29, 2025
Vienna's Belvedere: A Impressionist Collection of French Artists on Tour
One of the most important private collections of French Impressionism is now on display in Austria for the first time, following exhibitions in Lausanne and Cologne. From Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Lower Belvedere will present over 60 selected masterpieces from the Swiss Langmatt Museum, the former villa of industrialist couple Jenny and Sidney Brown. The exhibition, entitled “Cézanne, Monet, Renoir – French Impressionism from the Langmatt Museum,” offers a unique insight into the couple's passion for collecting.
September 24, 2025 · Sponsored Content
Eurovision Song Contest 2026: Vienna Prepares, Economy Benefits
The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026 promises to be not only a musical highlight but also a powerful economic boost for the Austrian capital. According to a recent study by the economic research institute ECO Austria, demand is expected to increase by 57 million euros.
August 21, 2025
Thai Anantara Celebrates Debut in Austria with New Luxury Resort in Vienna
With the reopening of the Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna, the Thai hotel group Anantara Hotels & Resorts opened its first hotel in Austria in May 2025. The historic building on Schottenring, originally designed by architect Theophil Edvard von Hansen for the 1873 World Exhibition, has been extensively renovated over the past 18 months and repositioned as an urban luxury resort.
May 20, 2025
Luxury Villa Becomes Wellness Hotel: Benko Family Leaves Estate in Igls
Following the insolvency of Signa and the imprisonment of company founder René Benko, his family is leaving the luxury villa in Igls. The property is to be converted into a wellness hotel. Meanwhile, a court ruling makes new headlines in the Benko case.
March 9, 2025
Austria Welcomes the World: FIS Alpine Ski World Championships 2025 Kick Off in Saalbach
Saalbach-Hinterglemm has once again become the epicenter of the alpine skiing world as the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships 2025 officially begin. With athletes, fans, and officials from across the globe gathering in the Austrian Alps, the event promises thrilling races, unforgettable moments, and a celebration of winter sports excellence.
February 4, 2025
New Flight Connection Between Vienna and Chengdu Inaugurated
Hainan Airlines links Europe and Asia with a new direct flight route between Vienna and Chengdu. The opening of the route was attended by a prominent delegation, including Qi Mei, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Austria, Julian Jäger, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG, Meng Fanzhuang, Counselor of the Chinese Embassy, and Zhang Zhuo, General Manager Austria of Hainan Airlines. The event marks another milestone in the bilateral relations between Austria and China.
December 12, 2024
Vienna: The Best City Destination in Europe for Americans
Vienna has once again proven that it is undisputed as a world-class travel destination. Readers of the renowned luxury and lifestyle magazine “Condé Nast Traveler” voted the Austrian capital the best European travel destination in this year's “Readers' Choice Awards” 2024.
October 5, 2024
New Silent Villas at Therme Laa: Luxury in the Weinviertel Region
Therme Laa an der Thaya, a well-known recreational destination in Lower Austria, reached a new milestone. With the ceremonial opening of the ten new “Silent Villas”, the thermal spa is expanding its offer with an exclusive retreat for adults. The ceremony was attended by numerous representatives from tourism, business, and politics, including Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who emphasized the importance of this expansion for the region.
July 31, 2024
Austria Wants to Be One of the Most Sustainable Destinations in the World
The extent to which the issue of climate change now affects all areas of our lives was also evident at this year's Expo Real in Munich.
Birgit Adelsberger · October 8, 2023
Exploring Vienna's Sustainable Solutions: Unusual Excursion Tips by MA 48
Waste prevention and waste separation as well as a clean city are among the central goals and concerns of street cleaning in Vienna (MA 48). MA 48 invites all interested parties to visit its facilities free of charge.
July 18, 2023
Weekly Briefing: 66th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency
The Find out more about this week's developments. Diplomacy is working at full speed and is already preparing exciting glimpses of the fall. The IAEA is holding its 66th General Conference and there are new economic developments in Austria. Read about the latest developments in diplomacy in Vienna and Austria.
September 29, 2022
Number of Holiday Trips Back to Pre-Crisis Levels
To mark World Tourism Day, today we turn our attention to tourism in Austria. After the summer, the travel activity of the Austrian population was evaluated. The pleasing result: the Austrian population is travelling more again and is back at pre-crisis levels. Among others, this pleases the airport, which recorded an increase in passenger volume.
September 27, 2022
Working in Austria: Further Facilitation of the Red-White-Red Card
Applying for a Red-White-Red Card is made easier again! Skilled workers who intend to work in Austria will find it easier to obtain a work permit in the future. Read this article to find out which simplifications have been decided.
September 26, 2022
Greece and Austria Plan Closer Cooperation in Tourism
During a meeting between Vassilis Kikilias, Greece's Tourism Minister, and Susanne Kraus-Winkler, Austria's State Secretary for Tourism, the two countries agreed to strengthen cooperation in tourism affairs.
September 13, 2022
Weekly Briefing: New Economic Developments
The Find out more about this week's developments. The war in Ukraine is also making itself increasingly felt in the Austrian economy. In Vienna, there are new developments in the day-to-day business of diplomacy. Read about the latest developments in diplomacy in Vienna and Austria.
August 18, 2022
Vienna's Luxury Shops Struggle with the Loss of Russian Tourists
During the past two decades, Russian tourists with purchasing power have enriched the city centre's luxury shops, but since the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine, hardly anyone visits the Austrian capital. According to the latest statistics, fewer than one percent of tourists staying overnight in Vienna are Russians. Due to the loss of purchasing power, the tourism industry in Vienna suffers greatly.
August 15, 2022
Most Popular Congress Cities Worldwide: Vienna in 1st Place Despite COVID-19 Pandemic
As an ideal venue for international congresses and events, Vienna has built a reputation in the past. Now this reputation has been confirmed by the International Congress and Convention Association. The first congress statistics published by Vienna since the Covid-19 outbreak were published in 2021, placing it ahead of Lisbon and Athens as the world's top conference metropolis.
August 5, 2022
Reform of the Red-White-Red Card Passed by Parliament
In order to eliminate the shortage of suitable workers, the Austrian parliament recently decided to change the criteria for the Red-White-Red Card. In future, it should be easier to obtain this card. Austria's economy is relieved. If you want to know the exact changes, read on!
July 11, 2022
Why Austria's Economic Recovery is Losing Momentum
According to the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), the global economic slowdown, which mainly affects industry, has dampened Austria's economic outlook. This downturn is only dampened by tourism, which has recovered better than expected since the Covid-19 pandemic.
June 30, 2022
Vienna Airport Pleased with Rising Passenger Numbers
Vienna Airport can be pleased with a significant increase in visitor numbers in May. Despite continuing lower passenger numbers than in the same month before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, five times more people flew through Vienna Airport than in May 2019. Read on if you want to learn more about Vienna Schwechat Airport!
June 15, 2022
Poland Soul Travel: Polish Embassy Gives Young Austrians an Insight Into Krakow
The Polish Embassy in Vienna enabled young Austrians to get to know Poland and visit the city of Krakow as part of the Soul Travel project. The focus of the action was to see the sights of Poland from new perspectives and to show the people of Poland the beauty of nature - off the normal tourist paths.
May 24, 2022
Congresses in Vienna - What You Should Not Miss
After a long dry spell, Vienna's tourism industry is looking forward with hope to the large number of congresses planned for this summer. Vienna, which is internationally known to be an optimal place for congresses, is the venue for more than 40 major events with over 1,000 guests this year and hopes to be able to attract as many events in the future. Here you will find a brief overview of the most important events in the city!
May 23, 2022
New "United Cities of Tourism" Campaign Aims to Strengthen City Tourism Across Europe
With a new campaign, the city tourism in Europe, which has suffered extremely by the Covid-19 pandemic, should be stimulated again. Several destinations across Europe will participate and the goal is to support each other in strengthening tourism. Read on if you want to know more about this interesting campaign.
May 4, 2022
Uncertainty due to Ukraine War: Austria's Tourism Industry Lowers High Expectations for 2022
Austria's tourism industry is facing another setback after 2 tough years. Uncertainty caused by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and the related increase in economic problems could have an impact on tourism and thus also on the economy in Austria.
April 7, 2022
These Are the 10 Finest Hotels in Austria
After two lean years, Austrian tourism is looking forward to the new season. More hotel guests are expected again, and this is urgently needed. We present you the 10 best hotels in Austria. One of them, belonged to the controversial Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Read on if you want to know which one and where to book your upcoming luxory vacation.
April 6, 2022
Explore Spring in Charming Bratislava after the Pandemic with the Twin City Liner
After the Twin City Liner had to stop all trips in autumn due to the Corona pandemic, spring trips to Bratislava can now already be booked from March 2022.
February 17, 2022 · Sponsored Content
Vienna Also Relaxes Corona Measures, But Stays With 2-G Rule in Gastronomy
The city of Vienna has announced that it will relax the current Corona measures largely in line with the nationwide easing. Only one point is to be deviated from.
February 3, 2022
Covid in Austria: Relaxation of Corona Measures
As of February 5, Austria begins cautious steps toward reopening. The current Covid measures will be gradually withdrawn over the course of February. Below is a brief overview of the gradual sequence.
February 1, 2022
Tourism in Austria: Number of Overnight Stays at the Level of 1970
Corona-related business closures and international travel restrictions continued to hit tourism in Austria hard in 2021. The number of arrivals by foreign guests fell by a further 15.6% in 2021 compared with the first pandemic year of 2020. Germans stayed 16.6% less, Dutch 41.4%, and Swiss and Liechtensteiners 36.6% less.
February 1, 2022
Austrian Airlines Relaunches Non-stop Flights to Los Angeles in Summer 2022
Starting in mid-May, Austrian Airlines will once again offer a direct flight between Vienna and Los Angeles to the U.S. West Coast. From 20 May, Austrian Airlines will fly five times a week to L.A.
January 31, 2022
Covid in Austria: Borders Are Open Again
Since January 24, guests from all countries with 2G+ or boosted can enter Austria - there are then no more virus variant areas. Great Britain, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway are no longer considered virus variant areas. Tourist travel is possible for vaccinated and recovered persons. Here is an overview of the updated entry regulations.
January 23, 2022
Vienna Airport Hub: Ryanair to Take Further Market Share from Competitor Austrian Airlines
Ryanair continues to cut into the market share of Austrian Airlines at Vienna International Airport. Read about the growth of this discount airline and how it is competing with Austrian Airlines in its home country.
January 20, 2022
Vienna - Perhaps the Best Place to Go in 2022
Vienna was ranked one of the top travel destinations for 2022 by multiple international media outlets. Read more about this positive development for Vienna's tourism industry.
January 19, 2022
Omicron Has Led to Quasi-Ban on Entry of Britons, Norwegians, Danes and Dutch into Austria
Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 throughout Austria, entry rules to Austria have been tightened. With Great Britain, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands, four important countries of origin of tourists have been declared virus variant areas. Read about the restrictions.
December 21, 2021 · Updated: December 23, 2021; 19:35
Vienna Tourism: November Overnight Stays Plus 494% - "Only Arithmetically"
Despite a lockdown for part of the month, Vienna saw a stark increase in the number of overnight stays in November 2021 compared to November 2020. Read how this compares to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 and how accommodation providers in Vienna have fared so far this year.
December 23, 2021
These Covid Rules Apply After the Lockdown for Vienna and Surroundings
The Austria-wide lockdown ended yesterday and applies to vaccinated and recovered individuals (2G). For the unvaccinated, the lockdown continues to be in effect. What new rules now apply at the federal level and in Vienna and the province of Lower Austria (Wien und Umgebung)?
December 13, 2021
Inaugural Statement of Austria's New Chancellor: "We Want to Reconcile with History"
Newly appointed Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer delivered his inaugural statement to the National Council. Read what the new chancellor said are some of the key issues his government will focus on.
December 10, 2021
Staying Overnight in Vienna During Covid-Lockdown
During the current 4th Austrian Lockdown (November 22 to probably including December 12, 2021) overnight stays in Viennese hotels are allowed for business reasons, but not for personal reasons. Find out what the requirements for an overnight stay in a Viennese hotel are and what exemptions are possible.
December 2, 2021
Air Travel to Austria: How Does Entry Work During the Fourth Lockdown?
The current lockdown in Austria due to COVID-19 has yet again complicated entry regulations for travelers. Inform yourself of the latest entry requirements for air travelers arriving in Austria and testing options at Vienna International Airport.
November 25, 2021
Vienna's Christmas Markets Get You in the Mood for Christmas
Vienna's famous Christmas markets are opening again, and they are the perfect way to get in the Christmas spirit. Learn about some of the numerous Christmas markets and what they have to offer.
November 19, 2021
Emirate of Qatar and Vienna to Cooperate in Cultural and Tourism Sectors
Vienna City Councilor Peter Hanke and Vienna Chamber of Commerce President Walter Ruck met with various government officials in Qatar to discuss further cooperation between Vienna and Qatar in the cultural and tourism sectors. Read about the visit and what, specifically, was discussed.
November 17, 2021
Nightjet: Connecting the City of Music with the City of Love
Austrian Railways (ÖBB) is offering a new Nightjet connection from Vienna to Paris from December 13, 2021. Learn more about this new offer.
November 16, 2021
Austrian Airlines on the Way Back to Pre-Crisis Levels
The Lufthansa subsidiary and self-declared "premium carrier" is gearing up against competition from so-called low-cost airlines.
November 11, 2021
Travel: Vaccinated Austrians Allowed to Enter the U.S. Again
Fully vaccinated foreign nationals, including Austrians, are now allowed to enter the United States again without requiring a "national interest exemption." Read about the latest update to US entry requirements and find out who qualifies for an exception.
November 9, 2021
Travel: Airlines Bring Foreign Nationals to the U.S. Again
After more than one and a half years, the US has ended the entry ban for travelers from the European Union on Monday, 8 November. This also allows for Austrians to finally fly to the United States again.
November 9, 2021
COVID-19 in Austria: From 3G to 2G Nationwide
After a meeting with the governors of the federal states of Austria, Chancellor Schallenberg announced a nationwide shift from 3G COVID-19 requirements to 2G. Read more about the new rule and what the chancellor said about it.
November 8, 2021
Südbahnhotel am Semmering: Former Grand Hotel Has New Owner
The former luxury hotel an hour's drive south of Vienna, which has been little used for decades, has been bought by the foundation of a Viennese entrepreneur and is to be revitalized. The focus is to be on cultural events. However, it will take years for the hotel to be fully developed.
November 5, 2021
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