Tourist flow to Austria on overall increase
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
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