Tourism
Nights spent decreased by 35.9 per cent compared to 2019
Corona-related closures, international travel restrictions and quarantine regulations are taking a heavy toll on tourism in Austria: after peaking at more than 150 million nights spent in 2019, the number of nights spent in the year 2020 fell back to the level of the early 1970s, at just under 98 million. Nights spent by guests from Germany, the most important market of origin, fell by 32.1% to 38.51 million in 2020. Guests from the Netherlands stayed 28.4% less, those from Switzerland and Liechtenstein 36.3% less. Nights spent by domestic guests fell by 20.9% to 31.60 million.
In the summer season 2020, a total of 53.83 million nights spent were reported, which is a decrease of 31.8% compared to summer 2019. Due to the travel restrictions caused by the corona, the number of nights spent by non-residents fell by 43.2% to 31.63 million, and that of residents by 4.7% to 22.20 million.
The number of arrivals (= number of guests) also decreased significantly by 42.6% to 14.70 million compared to the previous season. The winter season 2020/2021 closed with a total of 5.56 million nights spent. Due to the measures to combat the Corona Pandemic and the closings of operations, almost no nights spent were registered between November 2020 and April 2021. Accordingly, the number of nights spent decreased by 90.7% compared to the previous season. The arrivals (1.16 million guests) also recorded correspondingly high losses in the current winter season (-92.7%). Europe is the most important generator in international tourism. The European states are leading both as countries of origin (outgoing) and as target countries (incoming) in an international comparison. In the calendar year 2020 221 million arrivals in Europe were registered. This means a share of 58.7% of all international tourist arrivals (381 million; -73.9%). The decrease was 70.4% compared to 2019.
Almost 54 million nights spent in the summer season 2020
5.56 million nights spent in the winter season 2020/21
Austria is not only a popular vacation country, but also a country of people who like to travel: Whereas only 27.5% of the population went on a main holiday trip (with four or more overnight stays) in 1969, in 2019 about 60.9% of the population went on a main holiday trip. In 2020 travel intensity fell to 38.1% due to the Corona Pandemic. The number of main holiday trips taken abroad decreased (2019: 6.7 million, 2020: 1.9 million).
For years, those yearning for a holiday trip were drawn to the South: Italy is still the most popular destination abroad. The number of domestic trips (with four or more overnight stays) has more than doubled since 1969 (1969: 1.3 million, 2019: 3.2 million 2020: 3.1 million).
The most obvious trend is more but shorter holiday trips: While 50 years ago half of the main holiday trips lasted between one and two weeks, the share of such holidays was only 32.0% in 2020. The share of main holiday trips that last between five and seven days increased from 11.7% in 1969 to 55.6% in 2020.
Since 1969, the most important means of transportation has been the car, in 2020 Corona Pandemic, the car reaches its maximum (2020: 72.5%). 1969 the airplane played a less important role with a share of 3.4%, but by 2019 it has increased its share more than nine-fold (2019: 31.4 %). In 2020 it fell back to the level of the 1980s due to the Corona Pandemic (2020: 12.7%). The railroad has declined the most. In 1969, it was used for transportation in a quarter of all main holiday trips, in 2020 it was only used for one in ten (9.9%).