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Tourist flow to Austria on overall increase

21:50, 18 февраля 2013

At the end of 2012, Austria has achieved a fair upturn in the number of Russian tourists: plus 19% to the previous year's performance. As was conveyed by the Press-Secretary of Austrian Tourist Office in Russia Ms. Margot Wisiak, the Alpine country's hotels had recorded 476 arrivals and 1.8 million overnights by Russian tourists. By comparison, in 2011, there were slightly over 400 thousand Russians, who spent a total of 1.5 million nights in Austria's hotels.

With that, says Ms. Wisiak, this growth applies to both winter and summer seasons in practically every region throughout the country. "Austria has strengthened its hand on this highly competitive market due to intense marketing policy and close cooperation with Russian travel industry", she stressed out. Decent transport connection with Russia has, too, contributed to the success.

In general, Russian tour operators support Austria's findings. Ertzog, Astravel and DSBW Tours companies in particular have reported a 20-25% demand growth in 2012. Astravel's Austrian department explained that the most dynamic growth fell on spring 2012, while winter sales turned out to be less notable. "But our performance targets for Austrian winter ski sales have been met. We had few failed days, but it's more like an exception", informed the manager of European department at Astravel Ms. Elena Grafkina. According to the head of Ertzog's Austrian division Ms. Oksana Batmanova, pre-New Year departures starting from December 29 were the first ones to go off this season, while in previous years the demand for these dates was clearly weak. The second half of February and March show a fair upturn as well. The demand for Salzburgerland has been growing especially actively over this period, shared RATA-news' source.

Summing up first interim results of this winter, the head of Austrian department of PAC Group Company Ms. Maria Sharova, tells that a modest turn-down during school holidays gave way to active demand as from January 9. In February and March, the palm of victory belongs with Tirol; thanks to the practically guaranteed snowpack. "Apart from Mayrhofen, Ischgl and Soelden – the three ski resorts most popular with tourists, the call for a still new on the Russian market Serfaus has come up", explained Ms. Shapova. This season, PAC Group has increased its transportation volumes on the destination by means of Russian regions. The operator flies from Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Saint Petersburg and Novosibirsk.

Product-manager for Austria at Ascent Travel Mr. Rodion Nasyrov throws in a fly to the ointment. He says the destination's sales could be much better, if it was not for massive competition with online booking systems. Clearly, it primarily concerns sightseeing itineraries featuring Vienna and Salzburg. Ski tours do have some advantages here, as nobody but tour operators can offer cheap charter transportation. Yet, for certain ski resorts, the supply obviously exceeds the demand. For one, in March, Soelden is sold at discounted rates: depending on departure date, one may get a package for as little as €500 per person.

Astravel Company includes the beginning of active summer sales with early March, too. But even now, notes Elena Grafkina, there is an interest towards leisure at lakes of Carinthia and Salzkammergut. The head of Austrian department of DSBW Tours Ms. Alla Moustafayeva mentioned the demand for the country's thermal resorts, where Bad Blumau, Baden and Laa an der Thaya are in the lead. Tourists are also lured by tailor-made spa-programs; e.g. at a new woman-only hotel La Pura. This year, says Ms. Moustafayeva, prices for package tours to Austria put on an average of 10%.

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