Arrivals, overnight stays

An increase in the number of nights spent by guests from Germany, the most important country of origin, showed an increase by +0.7% to 56.7 million. Also Czech Republic (+7.0%) or Belgium (+2.5%) developed positively. Other countries of origin like Switzerland and Liechtenstein (-0.9%) and the United Kingdom (-3.2%) showed decreases.

The most nights spent were still observed in 5-/4-star hotels, which increased by 2.7% to 54.3 million compared to 2018. The highest relative increase in nights spent was registered with 6.0% to 13.8 million in commercial holiday dwellings or houses. Establishments of the 2-/1-star category (+0.2%) closed also positively in 2019.

All Austrian Länder showed a positive trend in 2019. The highest relative growths in nights spent were recorded in Vienna (+6.8%), Upper Austria (+4.6%) and Lower Austria (+3.5%).

In the summer season 2019 79 million nights spent were reported, an increase of 2.9% compared to summer 2018. The number of nights spent from abroad rose by 3.3% to 55.7 million that of resident stays by 2.0% to 23.3 million. The number of arrivals (= number of guests) also reflects the positive development in the 2018 summer season. Arrivals increased by 3.6 to 25.6 million. Foreign arrivals (17.2 million; +4.0%) as well as domestic arrivals (8.4 million; +2.9%) increased significantly.

Germany, the most important source market, contributed positively to the nights spent result with 29.5 million (+3.2%) and holds a share of 53.0% of all foreign nights spent. Other important foreign markets of origin also developed positively: Nights spent by guests from the Czech Republic (+8.2%), from the USA (+4.8%) or from the Netherlands (+3.1%) rose significantly. Nights spent by guests from the United Kingdom (-6.9%) and Italy (-0.6%) showed decreases in the summer season 2019.

Hotels and similar establishments recorded an increase in the number of nights spent in the summer season 2019 of 2.3% compared to the 2018 summer season. Increases in all types of commercial accommodation establishments were observed (5-4-star establishments: +3.6%; 3-star establishments: +0.6%; 2-/1-star establishments: +0.4%; commercial holiday apartments: +8.3%). Private accommodation establishments also achieved positive overnight results in the 2019 summer season (+2.9%). The average length of stay in the summer season 2019 was 3.1 nights.

The number of nights spent in the winter season 2019/20 dropped by 18.1% to 59.68 million compared to the previous season 2018/19. Almost no nights spent were registered in the last one and a half months of the 2019/20 winter season due to the shutdown of accommodation establishments and border closings since the middle of March 2020.

The number of nights spent by guests from abroad reached 46.76 million, which is 17.1% less than in the winter season 2018/2019. Nights spent by residents fell by 21.8% (12.93 million). With 22.32 million (-17.0%) around 37.4% of all nights spent in the winter season 2019/2020 were from guests from Germany. Other important markets of origin such as the Netherlands (-8.8%), the United Kingdom (-23.3%), Switzerland and Liechtenstein (-21.1%) and the Czech Republic (-15.1%) also showed significant losses.

In hotels and similar establishments (share of nights spent: 61.4%) a decrease of 20.0% in nights spent (compared to the winter season 2018/2019) was recorded. In 5/4-star, 3-star and 2-/1-star establishments high declines in nights spent were reported (-19.3%, -20.8% and -21.0%). Commercial holiday dwellings (share: 11.8%) showed the lowest losses (-10.1%).