Austrian Tourism Takes Stock And Looks Ahead: Stable Winter Season And Positive Summer Forecast

At a joint press conference today, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism and the Austrian National Tourist Board, together with Statistics Austria, presented current figures and analyses on tourism development in Austria. The 2024/25 winter season, which is just ending, presents an extremely encouraging picture, while the Austrian National Tourist Board's current summer potential analysis also provides cause for optimism for the coming months.

• Austria's winter 2024/25 stable despite weather-related challenges
• Summer 2025: 22.5 million guests forecast – plus one million from core markets
• Demand in the off-season is increasing – especially in the UK, Switzerland and the Netherlands
• Year-round tourism is not a buzzword, but a reality – it brings predictability, jobs and quality of life
• Winter season 2024/25 largely at previous year's level

Although the Easter holidays fell in April this year, the current winter tourist season (November 2024 to March 2025) recorded 64 million overnight stays and 17.8 million arrivals, according to current data from Statistics Austria. This corresponds to 0.7 percent fewer overnight stays and 0.7 percent more arrivals than in the 2023/24 winter season. Particularly noteworthy is the strong performance of the months of December and January, when overnight stays by both domestic and international guests increased significantly.

"Austria's diverse winter offerings are in high international demand – this is demonstrated by both the number of overnight stays and feedback from the tourism industry. At the same time, we know that our businesses and the industry are also facing challenges – from rising costs to labor shortages. The federal government will continue to implement targeted measures to ease the burden on the tourism industry and prepare it for the future," explains State Secretary for Tourism Elisabeth Zehetner.

"We already know that the 2024/25 winter season will show a consistently positive development and, in terms of the number of overnight stays, will be among the most successful seasons in recent history. This result underscores Austria's strong position in winter tourism," said Peter Laimer, tourism expert at Statistics Austria.

"Despite challenging conditions with low rainfall, the winter season was generally stable. The regions and businesses did a great job of providing guests with outstanding winter experiences. With our strong winter communications, we were able to create targeted momentum – we also recorded good growth rates from long-distance markets such as the USA, China, and Australia," explains ÖW Managing Director Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger.

22.5 million people are planning a summer holiday in Austria

"We have a strong appeal among vacationers: Whether hiking, enjoying culinary delights, or culture, 22.5 million people – one million more than last year – want exactly that in Austria," emphasizes Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger. "In 9 out of 10 markets surveyed, Austria is among the top 3 most popular mountain destinations," adds Steharnig-Staudinger.

State Secretary Zehetner: "The desire to travel remains high – in almost all markets, over 70 percent of people already have concrete summer vacation plans. The time, desire, and money for a summer vacation are available, and the economic situation of those surveyed is at the same level as last year. This is a strong signal and shows that the world is eager to vacation – and Austria is at the forefront."

Year-round tourism continues to grow

A significant part of the press conference was a detailed look at the development of the off-season and year-round tourism: Both Statistics Austria and the Summer Potential Study show that trips are increasingly taking place and being planned during the pre- and post-season. Between 50 and 70 percent of all those planning a vacation to Austria have vacation plans (also) for the months of May, June, or October. Guests from the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the Netherlands travel particularly frequently during the off-season. The main reasons cited for traveling in the pre- and post-season are lower prices, fewer tourist crowds, more pleasant temperatures, and a quieter atmosphere.

“As the 50-year review shows, overnight stays in Austria are increasingly distributed more evenly throughout the year, with all months being used for travel,” says Peter Laimer, tourism expert at Statistics Austria.

"Year-round tourism isn't just a buzzword. Year-round tourism has long been a reality here – with clear advantages for the regions. It ensures predictability, local jobs, and quality of life. In short: things don't just run smoothly during the peak season. With our 'Austria is just a way of life' campaign and targeted activities, we are shining a spotlight on the highlights of this holiday destination year-round. These include the 'At the Table with Austria' culinary event series in Switzerland, a community event at the Danish Outdoor Festival, the Feel Austria Week in Berlin, and the Feel Austria Festival in Paris," says Steharnig-Staudinger.

State Secretary Elisabeth Zehetner concluded: "Our task is clear: We not only want to experience a strong summer in 2025, but also shape a sustainable future for tourism. Therefore, we are working intensively on an update of the Austrian Tourism Strategy. Our goal is tourism that is economically strong, socially acceptable, and ecologically sustainable. Tourism that has its roots in the regions, allows for innovation, and strengthens the diversity of our offerings."