The 1.08 billion euros generated from January to November represents an increase of 42.3% compared to 2022 and 19.5% relative to 2019.
With 17.3 million overnight stays in 2023 (+31% on 2022), Vienna’s tourism industry achieved its second-best figures of all time. Revenues in the accommodation sector grew faster than the number of overnight stays and exceeded the one-billion-euro mark for the second time since 2019. Foreign visitors accounted for more than 80% of overnight stays. “Vienna’s tourism is as international again as it was before the pandemic,” declares Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board.
“Vienna’s tourism has completely shaken off the effects of the pandemic and has returned to the path of success,” said Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board, summarising the positive results. Vienna recorded 17,261,000 overnight stays last year, only 2% below the previous record set in 2019 but more than 4.7% higher than in 2018. Vienna’s Visitor Economy, therefore, achieved its second-best figures for overnight stays of all time. “Much more important than the number of overnight stays, however, is the revenue generated by the accommodation establishments – this grew by around a third more than the number of overnight stays throughout 2023 and had already surpassed its previous record from 2019 by the end of November,” explains Kettner.
Schleifmühlgasse, Freihaus district.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland overnight stay revenues up 47%
“Our commitment to high-quality tourism, our targeted marketing aimed at a culturally aware and affluent audience, and the global positioning of Vienna as a meeting destination, even during the pandemic, were the foundations for putting Vienna’s tourism in pole position in 2023,” says Kettner. German and Austrian visitors make up the largest market share in Vienna’s international blend. The USA, Italy, the UK, Spain, France, Poland, Switzerland, and Romania complete the top 10 countries of origin with the highest number of overnight stays.
Adding to the city’s international allure, January 2024 saw The New York Times include Vienna in its “52 Places to Go,” coinciding with the city’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of the iconic film ‘The Third Man’. This has further elevated Vienna’s cultural cachet among global audiences. Great Britain and Northern Ireland contribute significantly to Vienna’s tourism, ranking as the fifth-largest source market, with net overnight stay revenues increasing by 47% to €46.6 million from January to November 2023. Moreover, 2023 saw 681,000 overnight stays from the UK, a 37% increase from the previous year and a 7% increase from 2019. The 2023 data reveals a substantial rise in visits from guests from the UK, with arrivals amounting to 282,981, reflecting a 38% increase from the previous year. Sustainability remains a pillar of Vienna’s tourism sector, with 18% of accommodation providers certified with the Austrian Ecolabel, encompassing 160 establishments by the end of 2023, among them 16 museums, reflecting Vienna’s dedication to environmentally conscious tourism initiatives.
At Graben.
Hotels: growth in the luxury segment
With approximately 74,400 beds in 37,700 rooms in 410 hotels, Vienna’s accommodation capacity now exceeds pre-pandemic levels. Around 60% of the hotel beds are in 4 and 5-star establishments. In 2019, Vienna had 22 luxury hotels, whereas by the end of 2023, there were 25.
2024: Vienna’s districts in the spotlight
Under the motto “Heartbeat Streets,” the Vienna Tourist Board is putting eleven notable neighbourhoods that couldn’t be more different on the international stage in its annual theme for 2024 – and involving the people who shape these neighbourhoods. “As places where people come together, interact, and create, Vienna’s neighbourhoods increasingly fascinate visitors looking for authentic experiences and encounters with genuine people in the post-pandemic age of travel. Vienna has a lot of these to offer. We are bringing the districts of Vienna that lie outside the touristic centre to the forefront of our marketing activities to enable the entire city to benefit from the added value of tourism,” explains Kettner.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
