With the opening of the catering and hotel industry after the lockdown on May 19, 2021, Austrian tourism recorded significant increases in demand in the first half of the summer season compared to the previous year (arrivals +24,1 percent, overnight stays +19,5 percent, nominal income + 24,3 percent).
According to current estimates by WIFO, the forecast increase in demand for the entire summer season 2021 is +10,5 percent compared to 2020 (-24,7 percent compared to the normal season 2019). Nevertheless, the outlook for the calendar year 2021 remains gloomy with around 22,1% fewer overnight stays than in 2020 and only half the occupancy rate compared to the pre-crisis year 2019.