Austrian Tourism Surges to Record Highs with Nearly 42 Million Stays in Three Months

Austria's tourism sector is on track for a record-breaking summer season, with a remarkable 41.87 million overnight stays recorded from May to July alone. This figure marks the highest number of overnight stays since data collection began in 1973, signaling a robust recovery and growth in the industry.

Foreign visitors were the primary drivers of this surge, accounting for more than two-thirds of all stays. Germans led the pack, with 7.2 million visitors in July alone, followed by tourists from the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Swiss and Liechtenstein guests also contributed significantly, ranking fourth in July.

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In July 2026, there were 19.46 million overnight stays, which is 4.8 percent more than in July of the previous year, and the number of guests increased particularly significantly, with an increase of 9.3 percent.

The positive trend extends beyond overnight stays, with employment in the hotel and catering sectors showing a strong upward trajectory. Approximately 260,000 people are now employed in these sectors, the highest number ever recorded. This growth is seen as a positive sign for the Austrian economy, with tourism authorities expressing optimism about the remainder of the season, which officially lasts until October.

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In these two sectors, approximately 260,000 people are employed, which is the largest number of employees ever recorded.