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The tourism industry in Vienna expects big losses after the German classification as a risk area. In other regions of Austria the summer season was not as bad as feared, but for winter it looks black.
According to experts, the classification of Vienna as a corona risk zone is a serious blow to tourism in Vienna. “This is a huge disaster,” said Vienna tourism director Norbert Kettner.
The Germans have always been the largest guest group and have remained loyal to the city, especially during the crown crisis. German guests accounted for 35 percent of overnight stays in July. Now tourism, which had a record year in 2019, is headed for a 70 percent drop in overnight stays this year. “Some hotels will close temporarily, others forever.”
In Vienna, 116,000 jobs were directly or indirectly related to tourism. An estimated 35,000 now threaten to be lost.
Like Switzerland before, Germany declared Vienna a risk zone on Wednesday due to the increase in the number of infections. The federal government issued a travel advisory for the Austrian capital. Therefore, a negative PCR test or quarantine is required for all travelers to Vienna when they return to Germany.
The mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, tried to remain calm. “Such measures also apply to Brussels, Paris, Prague and Geneva. We are dealing with a European development, not a Viennese quirk.”
Grim prospects for tourism in the country
The prospects are also bleak for tourism in Austria as a whole, which in the summer season at least in the Alps and in the lakes was better than initially feared. So far there have been significantly fewer bookings for winter, said expert Thomas Reisenzahn, from Prodinger’s tourism advisor for the Viennese newspaper “Kurier”. “In most companies, winter is responsible for two-thirds of the operating result.”
Austria tightened the rules for private parties
In response to the increasing number of infections, Austria wants to limit the number of participants in private meetings. As of Monday, only ten people can celebrate in the buildings, said Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. However, a control of private apartments is not foreseen, as it does not comply with fundamental rights. These are meetings in public space. The only exception to the new requirements is funerals.
These were “restrictions that hurt, but are necessary to prevent a second lockdown,” Kurz said to understand. A second blockade would have “catastrophic consequences.” This must be absolutely avoided.
As before, up to 150 people are allowed at outdoor events. Professionally organized events in the sports and cultural sector are not affected. Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said the upper limit of 1,500 people in buildings and 3,000 outdoors was still there.
780 newly infected people in 24 hours
The last 780 new corona virus infections were recorded in Austria within 24 hours. Taking into account the number of inhabitants, this is around three times more than in Germany today.
