A current analysis of the communications service provider APA-Comm shows that the Dachstein remains Austria's most popular mountain on the platform Instagram With more than a quarter of a million posts under the hashtag "Dachstein," the peak on the border between Styria and Upper Austria defends its top position. The study, which examined the hashtag presence of local mountains, was conducted for the third time and compares the data with analyses from 2019 and 2022.
Since 2019, the Dachstein has more than doubled its Instagram presence. According to APA-Comm, this is primarily due to the numerous photo opportunities on the mountain. Popular spots like the south face, the glass " Sky Walk ," and Austria's highest suspension bridge attract visitors who share their impressions online. The visible melting of the Dachstein Glacier is also frequently addressed in these posts. The internationally renowned Arlberg region, with over 190.000 posts, and the Großglockner, with 174.000 posts, occupy second and third place in the ranking .
The analysis also highlights that the Eastern Alps and regions like Upper Austria are catching up in the rankings. For example, the Traunstein , also known as the "Guardian of the Salzkammergut," recorded the largest increase among the top 20 mountains, rising by 170 percent. The neighboring Grünberg even saw an increase of 231 percent, climbing 26 places. Mountains in Lower Austria, such as the Schneeberg and the Rax , also improved their rankings.
Popularity on social media platforms like Instagram has become an important indicator for tourism destinations. Hashtags and geographic tags, as evaluated by the APA Comm analysis, are crucial for measuring a destination's reach and influence. The study shows a shift from the pure mountain sports community to a broader audience who view alpine landscapes as an attractive backdrop for their photos.