According to Statistics Austria, Austrian accommodation providers recorded a total of 2021 million overnight stays in the period from November 2022 to April 52,7. This was well below the pre-crisis level, as there were 2018 million overnight stays in the 19/72,9 winter season.

Also, one only had 13 million arrivals. In the comparison period before the corona pandemic, there were still 20,4 million. However, the average length of stay has increased by 0,4 days to four days. The strongest foreign market of origin was again Germany (20,5 million overnight stays), followed by the Netherlands (5,6 million) and Belgium (1,6 million).

“The domestic accommodation industry recorded 52,7 million overnight stays in the last winter season. Winter tourism has shown that a solid winter season is possible despite the corona pandemic," said State Secretary Susanne Kraus-Winkler on the occasion of the new Statistics Austria figures for the completed winter season 21/22. “Although the renewed lockdown at the beginning of the past winter season slowed down tourism and there were uncertainties due to constantly changing travel restrictions, the second half of the season from February in particular could be used well. This is also a clear signal that with the prevention concepts and vaccinations that have been learned, a safe winter season is possible even without a lockdown, such as in Switzerland."

However, the current summer season is negatively influenced by many factors. Austrian tourism is currently suffering from an acute shortage of workers. Added to this are the enormous price increases, for example for electrical energy, natural gas and food. “We must now do everything we can to relieve the tourism sector, which has been particularly hard hit by inflation, and to find solutions to the labor shortage. The RWR card as well as the regular seasoner regulation are important instruments, but in the current situation and especially for this summer they are not yet sufficient when it comes to recruiting employees. In addition, all sectors are desperately looking for employees. The economic and tourism boom must not be jeopardized by a lack of workers. Everyone is aware that more solutions are needed for the summer season that has already begun, so we are trying to reach an agreement as quickly as possible," says Kraus-Winkler.