While the official figures were not out yet, Austrian National Tourist Office Australia Director, Astrid Mulholland-Licht told The Mole in Vienna today that 2006 had been a bumper year for Austria out of Australia and New Zealand, with her expecting 300,000 overnights from Australia and 17,000 from New Zealand.
She also added that surveys showed that Australians are among the top spenders with 42% of them staying in 4/5* hotels.
For 2007, Astrid is also expecting to see a growth of about 10% with Australia in 16th position in the Austria visitor league.
Mozart was a real pull in 2006, but Austria does not have the key icon theme this year and therefore growth in 2007 may be a little slower.
Astrid said that Austria had established itself as a destination and a must see European destination, with Vienna now a mature major metropolis.
A Special Austria Report by The Mole on location in Vienna
