Despite persistently high inflation, the thought of a winter holiday in the 2023/2024 season remains largely unabated. The savings are mainly realized in the choice of place of stay, with guests preferring cheaper destinations or accommodation or shortening their stay slightly.
“The holiday mood is more positive than last year and the desire to travel in winter has increased among a larger part of the population,” explains State Secretary for Tourism Susanne Kraus-Winkler. Last winter, 77 percent of overnight bookings in local accommodation providers came from holidaymakers from abroad. The holidays are already well booked.
“We are optimistic about winter”
This year could be even better than last year. “We are optimistic about winter,” the ÖW boss noted, referring to the survey showing that “about 20 million people are most likely planning to go on a winter holiday this year” – that is three million more than at the same time last year. year.
Ski tickets are up to 13 percent more expensive
Travelers will find a wide range of options in Austria – “from ‘low budget’ to luxury ski areas”. “Holidays remain the most valuable consumer good,” says Astrid Steharnig-Staudinger, director of the national tourism marketing organization Austria Advertising (ÖW). And this despite the fact that it has already become significantly more expensive. “The price increases for ski tickets are between eight and 13 percent (40 to 75 euros) – depending on the destination and supply structure – and for hotels between eight and twelve percent.” No further price increases are expected in 2023.
Winter tourism generates more money than summer tourism
In the last winter of 2022/23, the average daily expenditure was 207 euros per person, and in the summer 167 euros. Savings are the order of the day: The price-performance ratio is one of the most important selection criteria when choosing a holiday.
“In general we can offer snow certainty”
Austria also has the image “that we can always offer snow certainty.” Kraus-Winkler sees this offer as “certainly assured until 2050” despite climate change. “Around 75 percent of the area may be covered with snow,” says the State Secretary, referring to the slopes. In Italy it is 90 percent. “There is no better infrastructure in the world than in our ski areas,” Steharnig-Staudinger emphasized.
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.
