Steady Recovery in Austrian Tourism Since the Beginning of the Year, Inflation Clouds Further Expectations

In contrast to the lockdown-induced suspension of the complete 2020-21 winter season in Austria (overnight stays –92.4 percent), demand in the past winter picked up steadily as the season progressed after renewed closures at the beginning of the season. Thereby, the gap between November 2021 and April 2022 and the pre-crisis level of 2018-19 was reduced to an average of just under 28 percent in terms of overnight stays and a good 19 percent in terms of nominal tourism revenue. The expectations of the Austrian tourism industry for the current summer season are positive across the board; after two years of pandemic-related restrictions, the desire to travel is high both at home and abroad. However, the tense political situation caused by the war in Ukraine and its economic repercussions, especially the massive rise in prices, are increasingly clouding the outlook for the coming months.