Austria's tourism industry has hit a new peak. The country recorded 156 million overnight stays in 2025. This number beats the previous record of 154.3 million from 2024. Preliminary figures from Statistics Austria show this was the strongest year for domestic tourism. The trend continues.
Jürgen Weiß from Statistics Austria presented the data. He explained that final December numbers are not ready yet. Current estimates point to a minimum of 156 million overnight stays. Weiß stated, "We assume at least 156 million overnight stays."
Strong December Performance Across Regions
The final month of 2025 was a success. Susanne Kraus-Winkler is the Federal Chairwoman for Tourism at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ). She described December as "good to very good" in most parts of the country.
Occupancy was high between Christmas and New Year's Eve. Hotels were full in traditional ski resorts and in Austrian cities. Christmas markets drew many visitors until the end of the year.
Balanced Seasons with a Winter Premium
Overnight stays were split evenly between summer and winter seasons in 2025. Summer held a slight lead, just like in previous years.
Guests spent more money per stay during the winter months. Ski holidays include extra costs for equipment and lift passes. Luxury wellness hotels see high demand in the colder season.
The four- and five-star hotel segment saw the biggest increases in overnight stays. High-quality holiday apartments on platforms like Airbnb also grew.
Western Austria Remains the Tourism Powerhouse
Western Austria remains the country's top tourism engine. The mountainous provinces in the west drew the most visitors again in 2025.
The western regions dominate the overall tourism figures. But the fastest growth since 2019 was recorded in Vienna and Burgenland. These two regions saw the largest jumps in overnight stays compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Lower Austria and Carinthia have not returned to their 2019 visitor numbers. Both provinces had fewer overnight stays in 2025 than before the Corona crisis.
Looking ahead
Austria's tourism sector enters 2026 in good shape. The country has record figures and strong December results. Luxury accommodation is booming. Summer and winter offerings remain popular. Natural beauty, good infrastructure, and diverse experiences attract people. The country remains one of Europe's top travel destinations.
