Austria in Travel Fever: Record High in Holiday Trips 2024

Despite the poor economic situation, the travel enthusiasm of Austrians remains unbroken. In 2024, 27.5 million holiday trips with at least one overnight stay were undertaken - a new record high, as the figures released by Statistics Austria on Wednesday show. The travel intensity remained almost unchanged at 76.4 percent compared to the previous record year 2023. However, this means that almost a quarter did not go on a holiday trip.

"Bella Italia" remains number one among Austria's vacationers

Around 47.3 percent of holiday trips were domestic. The most popular federal states were Styria (19.7 percent), Lower Austria (14.8 percent), and Salzburg (13.5 percent). Among foreign destinations, Italy (19.8 percent), Germany (14.7 percent), and Croatia (11.8 percent) were in the lead. Long-distance trips outside Europe accounted for a noticeably higher share of 7.9 percent compared to the previous year (6.5 percent).

Austrians took fewer train trips, but more flights

While the number of flights increased again (18.7 percent of trips), train usage noticeably declined: Only 13.6 percent of trips were taken by train in 2024 - after a peak of 15.1 percent the previous year. The car remained by far the most common means of transport with a share of 61.0 percent.

Relaxation and Family Visits as Top Travel Reasons 2024

Relaxation vacations (28.9 percent) and visits to relatives and friends (25.6 percent) were also the most common holiday reasons in 2024. More than half of the trips lasted up to three nights, 47.6 percent four nights or longer.

A Quarter of All Austrians Preferred to Stay Home in 2024

Around 1.83 million people in Austria (23.6 percent of the population aged 15 and over) did not take a vacation trip with an overnight stay last year. The main reasons they cited were lack of travel occasions (49.7 percent), financial hurdles (34.7 percent), health restrictions (29.9 percent), as well as family or professional obligations.

The number of business trips slightly decreased compared to 2023 to around 3.81 million. In total, there were 31.3 million vacation and business trips in 2024.

(APA/Red)

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