After very difficult corona years, holidaymakers have returned to Graz, says tourism director Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, who is satisfied with the top results. In an interview he explains who is still missing and how annoying the construction sites are.
“crown”: Graz has had some tough years in terms of tourism.
Dieter Hardt-Stremayr: “Hard” is the apt expression. The Corona pandemic has hit urban tourism with full force, this is not a Graz phenomenon, but a European one. There are drops of 50 percent and more. But last year we again reached the mark of one million overnight stays.
What is the trend this year?
Absolutely very well, we are already a noticeable tad above pre-Corona times. With exactly 2.5 percent through July, which corresponds to 560,000 overnight stays.
What is the future trend?
The future always brings uncertainty and stomachaches as the short-term nature of bookings continues to increase. Guests do not book their room until they are already in the parking lot in front of the hotel. They simply drive off when the weather, events or a menu tempt them. Accommodation providers always need more nerves because there is a lack of planning certainty.
How generous are the holidaymakers this year?
The average cost is 190 euros per day. A third of this is accounted for by hotels, restaurants, shops, public transport and culture. It’s very different. Many guests act by the motto: How much does the world cost? With others you notice that they have to be very careful with the budget. For example, we receive feedback from the Swiss that they find our destination much more expensive than before, despite the strong Swiss franc
The Asians are reserved. Will you come back to us soon?
The market is still very weak, especially among the Chinese. But the Americans are back, but our main markets remain Austria, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
The large construction sites irritate the inhabitants of Graz. What do tourists report?
Those not directly affected by construction sites are not affected as much and vacationers rarely leave negative feedback. We have a lot in return: the city is beautiful, cozy, has wonderful restaurants, short distances, sights, culture, it is located in a very attractive region. Many wonder why they were there not long ago – and come back. Word of mouth from satisfied guests is priceless. And here we score completely.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
