Austria invites Canadians to stay a while

For 2019, the Austrian Tourist Office has one message for Canadians visiting the country: take your time.

“Canadians (who travel to Europe) have to fly over the Atlantic so they try and do many things in a very short amount of time,” Christian Lassnig, Austrian Consul & Trade Commissioner, told PAX. “But it’s good to take a little more time to try and see more sides of Austria; they should stay more than two and a half days.”

The tourism office was joined by several Austrian destination representatives for a short Canadian roadshow this week, with stops in Montreal, Toronto and wrapping up in Vancouver tomorrow (Jan. 31).

With a focus on Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Vorarlberg this year, Lassnig explained that the featured destinations exemplify the wide range of activities and attractions available in a country known for classical music, coffee houses and its role in shaping European history. In 2018, Austria saw 300,000 Canadian overnights – and its aiming for more this year.

“The good thing about Austria is that you can do everything – you don’t have to choose. You can have culture in Salzburg and then travel for an hour and do white-water rafting in Innsbruck. You can combine everything within a few days.”

READ MORE: Vienna Tourist Board & ACV promote new direct flights from YYZ & YUL

Exploring Austria

Each of the participating partners provided attendees with an update on their respective destinations and products:

Vienna

Next year will mark a milestone anniversary for one of Vienna’s most famous residents, as the city prepares to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven. Armando Mendonca, who represents the Vienna Tourist Board in Canada, told PAX that 2019 will see a number of festivals and events take place in the lead-up.

“If you’re a Beethoven lover, Vienna is the place to be!” Mendonca said.

Another of the city’s most famous composers is immortalized each year, through the Vienna Mozart Concert series; in 2019, the concerts take place from April to October at Vienna’s famed Golden Hall.

Vienna will also become even more accessible to Canadians this spring with the launch of service from Toronto on Air Canada’s B787-9 Dreamliner and from Montreal aboard Austrian Airlines’ B767-300ER aircraft, both commencing April 29. Both flights by the Star Alliance partner airlines will operate daily in summer and then five times weekly in the winter months.

Twin City Liner

Sailing between Vienna and Bratislava, Slovakia, the Twin City Liner offers travellers a unique way to explore two cities aboard “the fastest ship on the Danube,” said Peter Stasiuk, director of marketing and sales.

Starting in 2006 with two catamarans from Vienna to Bratislava, the company sold these last year to buy a single ship which will operate from 2019 onward.

A ticket for the 184-seat vessel is available starting at 30 Euro, with group charters offered for events such as weddings or MICE gatherings.

Innsbruck

Nestled in an Alpine valley and dubbed the ‘capital of the Alps,’ Innsbruck draws travellers the world over with its landscape and outdoor sports opportunities, exemplified by the city’s hosting of the Winter Olympics in both 1964 and 1976.

Once the summer residence of Austrian Emperor Maximillian I, Innsbruck is now home to Swarovski Crystal World, which features 17 displays involving the world-famous crystals, including an infinity mirror room.

Of course, guests can always go shopping afterwards: “We have staff who speak every language from countries with credit cards!” Lassnig joked.

Vorarlberg

“Vorarlberg provides lots to discover for clients who’ve seen Central Europe and want to see something different,” said Lassnig.

Located in westernmost Austria near the Swiss border where locals speak in a specific dialect, Vorarlberg is home to Austria’s highest mountains at 3,000 metres. With snow staying until late April or even early May, Vorarlberg is a skier’s paradise, while the summer months provide ample opportunity for hiking, biking and paragliding.

More information is available at austria.info.

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