GCC travellers’ play role in revival

The Austrian National Tourist Office held a travel workshop in Dubai to discuss the most recent travel updates to Austria and the factors that put the European country at the top of travellers’ lists. Many local media and travel trade professionals attended the event, which was organised in partnership with Emirates Airline and 13 Austrian partners representing tourist boards, companies, and hotels.

DDuring the event, Lisa Weddig, CEO, Austrian National Tourist Office, highlights the diverse experiences Austria has to offer, as well as the factors that make it a popular travel destination around the world. “Austria welcomes visitors with a myriad of offerings that fulfill all aspirations. Whether travellers come to enjoy its cultural heritage, picturesque nature, family adventures, or to savour its flavours, they will undoubtedly find what they are looking for and more. COVID-19 has affected the tourism industry worldwide, but thanks to the successful management of this crisis by the Austrian government, we have witnessed a rapid recovery with the return of travel. The health and safety regulations in place have greatly contributed to rebuilding the travellers’ trust and making the summer holiday season a remarkable success,” Weddig says.

The summer holiday season in Austria was marked by a clear recovery, and travellers from the GCC region played a major role in this. Robert Groeblacher, Director, Austrian National Tourist Office in the Middle East, asserts, “Since the return of touristic travel between Austria and the GCC at the end of June, we have witnessed an increasing number of visitors from this region to Austria. This observation is supported by figures, as 263,000 overnight stays by GCC travellers were registered over the course of the following three months. In September 2021, the number of overnight stays from this region reached 80 per cent of the number recorded in September 2019 before COVID-19. This indicates a clear recovery of the travel industry, and we stay positive about it.”

Groeblacher also highlights the importance of the Gulf region for Austria’s tourism industry, saying, “In 2021, the GCC ranks first among the largest source markets for travellers to Austria outside the European Union. This makes the GCC market of great importance to us, and we are working to establish more initiatives within the region aimed at introducing Austria’s rich experiences to the largest possible audience.”