Vienna's Congress Tourism Recorded a Record Year in 2024
The industry thus created 23,500 full-year jobs and contributed 365 million euros in tax revenue. All key figures exceeded previous record values.
Vienna registered 2,193 congresses (an increase of two percent) and 4,426 corporate events (an increase of three percent). The number of participants rose to 671,000, who booked 1.999 million overnight stays - an increase in overnight stays of 26 percent. Congress guests stayed significantly longer in the city with an average of 2.98 nights than regular Vienna visitors (2.3 nights) and spent almost twice as much with an average of 560 euros per night compared to the average tourist (360 euros).
The majority of the value creation (78 percent or 1.03 billion euros) was delivered by congresses - especially international events. Although these accounted for only 12 percent of all meetings, they brought 39 percent of all participants and two-thirds of all overnight stays. The tax revenue from international congresses was also particularly high at 267 million euros.
Vienna well established in medical congresses
According to Vienna Tourism Director Norbert Kettner, Vienna has particularly established itself in medical congresses. In 2025, the Radiology Congress (20,500 participants), the ESCMID Congress for Microbiology (14,500), and the Diabetes Congress EASD (15,000) will take place in the city. Artificial intelligence is also a new focus topic.
Vienna's international reputation as a congress destination is also reflected in global rankings: In 2023, the city ranked fourth worldwide according to ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association). The Vienna Meeting Fund, initiated by the City of Vienna during the pandemic, is now being used to attract meetings through subsidies even outside the main season. "By the end of 2024, over 1,200 applications were submitted, more than 800 meetings in the funding period from May 2021 to December 2028 received approval," said Kettner. "Currently, nearly three million euros from the twelve million euro funding pot, provided in three installments, are still available." Applications can be submitted until the funds are exhausted at http://www.meeting.wien.info.
(APA/Red)
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