Travel and tourism in Austria - statistics & facts
Austria is one of the leading tourist destinations in Europe. Its influential history, rich culture, and fascinating landscape made it one of the most visited European countries by international tourists in 2022, ranking ahead of other popular travel markets like Portugal and the Netherlands. That year, the total contribution of travel and tourism to Austria’s GDP exceeded 40 billion U.S. dollars, remaining approximately 10 percent lower than before the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While the total contribution of travel and tourism to employment in Austria also did not catch up yet with pre-pandemic levels, these industries showed strong signs of recovery in 2022, generating, directly and indirectly, nearly 500 thousand jobs.
When focusing on the number of overnight stays, German guests reported by far the highest figure, regardless of the season. Between November 2022 and April 2023, Germany topped the ranking of Austria’s leading inbound travel markets in winter with approximately 26 million overnight stays, followed by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. On the other hand, behind Germany and the Netherlands, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Italy, and Czechia were among the leading inbound travel markets in Austria during summer.
What are the leading inbound travel markets in Austria?
With the ease of all travel restrictions across most countries worldwide, the total number of tourist arrivals in Austria, including international and domestic travelers, bounced back in 2022, reaching just under 40 million. Both before and after the impact of the health crisis, inbound visitors accounted for the highest number of arrivals and tourist overnight stays in Austria, representing more than 70 percent of nights in the country’s accommodation establishments in 2022.When focusing on the number of overnight stays, German guests reported by far the highest figure, regardless of the season. Between November 2022 and April 2023, Germany topped the ranking of Austria’s leading inbound travel markets in winter with approximately 26 million overnight stays, followed by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. On the other hand, behind Germany and the Netherlands, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Italy, and Czechia were among the leading inbound travel markets in Austria during summer.
