Austrians dream of vacation: Salzburg and Carinthia in first place!

Austrians dream of vacation: Salzburg and Carinthia in first place!

As part of the ÖHV vacation radar published on June 3, 2025, 28 % of Austrians: inside use the extended Whitsun weekend for a vacation. According to the survey, carried out by Reppublika in cooperation with the ÖHV, most vacationers are drawn: inside to their domestic realms. Breathtaking 60 % spend their free time in Austrian hotels, which underlines the popularity of domestic vacancies. ÖHV President Walter Veit pleased the results and emphasized the attractiveness of the domestic offer.

The most popular destination for the Pentecost days is Salzburg, followed by Carinthia and Lower Austria, both of whom take second place at the same time. Salzburg captivates with its cultural highlights and the surrounding area, while Carinthia attracts with its lakes, mountains and thermal baths. Lower Austria scores through gentle landscapes, charming cities and a diverse wellness offer.

popular holiday types and budget

The most chosen vacation activities are city trips, hikes in nature and relaxing spa holidays. With regard to the vacation budget, a third of the travelers plan to spend between 500 and 1,000 euros, with 17 % up to 1,500 euros ready. Every tenth traveler even wants to invest up to 2,000 euros. For those who have decided, there is still the possibility to find available rooms because the demand remains stable in the long term.

The variety of holiday destinations in Austria is enormous and ranges from the beautiful cities to the impressive landscapes of the mountains and lakes. An overview of the most beautiful holiday locations in the mountains and on lakes shows the breathtaking possibilities that the country has to offer. The Traveloptimizer particularly emphasizes the Tyrolean Zugspitz Arena and the idyllic regions around Zell am See.

tourism in Austria

But not only the Pentecost holidays show the value of tourism for Austria, the general numbers are also impressive. In 2022, the turnover of the tourism sector was around 17 billion euros and thus contributed 3.8 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP). The establishment of a tourism satellite konto (TSA) has been able to evaluations since 2002. In 2023, the summer season reached a new high with 16.6 billion euros. According to Statista, around 45 million guests came in the Austrian accommodations in 2023.

Tirol is at the top with over 22,800 accommodation facilities, followed by a variety of hotels that made up almost 90.3 million overnight stays. However, the shortage of skilled workers in the industry, which has been reinforced by pandemic, is a challenge that needs to be mastered. Despite these difficulties, TUI and Eurotours have been awarded the best employer in the industry for 2023.

Tourism remains a crucial industry in Austria, and the positive developments related to vacation plans show that people continue to have the need for travel and relaxation. Whether in summer while hiking, in winter while skiing or simply on a city trip - the possibilities are diverse and invite you to explore domestic beauty.