Austrian tourism hits record high, contributing 6.5% to GDP

Austria's tourism sector achieved a record high in overnight stays and arrivals last year, significantly boosted by foreign visitors, contributing 6.5% to the national GDP. The sector's direct added value reached 22.8 billion euros, and it provided employment for 7.1% of the workforce.

The tourism report for 2025 highlights the sector's success in international competition, describing it as a flagship industry, an economic engine, and a guarantor of employment and prosperity. In 2025, 228,634 people were employed in the hotel and gastronomy sector. However, these employees are still awaiting a new collective agreement, as negotiations have recently failed.

Despite these challenges, the number of arrivals has doubled since 1997, showing an average annual growth of 2.5%. Last year, overnight stays increased by 1.9% to 157.3 million, and arrivals rose by 3.1% to 48.2 million.

"The future of tourism is not decided solely by overnight stay figures, but by competitiveness, quality, innovation, and regional added value," stated the Ministry of Economy. The federal government, in collaboration with the industry, is actively working on these aspects to ensure the sector's long-term success.