After two years in which tourism was shaped by the effects of the corona pandemic, there was a clear upward trend in 2022. Much more overnight stays than the previous year and only a slight decrease compared to the pre-Corona year of 2019 allow the city of Graz and the tourist association to achieve a satisfactory balance. However, innovations such as a camp in Graz are being considered.
GRAZ. After tourism was hit hard internationally, but also in Graz by the pandemic, the city of Graz presented together with the Graz Heritage Region and the Graz Tourist Society on Thursday a pleasant balance for the year 2022. 1,138,652 overnight stays Graz registered in the previous year – this corresponds to an increase of 62.5 percent compared to 2021. The much more significant comparison with the previous record of 2019 shows a decrease of only 8.9 percent (which corresponds to 112 thousand sleeps).
Mostly Austrian tourists
As recorded, nearly half of all overnight stays in 2022 were in the Austrian market, followed by overnight stays from Germany. As planned, the focus was on markets where the joint venture’s focus marketing measures from Tourism Association Graz and Styria Region Tourism was placed. There was a clear uptrend in many other European markets.
Arrivals in 2022 were 637,560, not only a 69.5% increase from 2021, but also the second highest value so far means. Around 261,000 more visitors came to Graz than in 2021. Compared to 2019, around 63,900 fewer arrivals were recorded.
In the case of business trips, a savings pin is applied
The one that drastically dropped due to the corona pandemic business travel activity recovered, but it is no longer at the level of pre-pandemic times. Many companies have skimped on business travel, primarily for economic and sometimes ecological reasons as well. Even those established during the Corona period communication channels significantly limit travel.
After numerous cancellations and postponements in recent years, the congress and seminar tourism it started well again in the spring of 2022. The number of events was even slightly higher than the 2019 numbers, as many meetings were rescheduled. However, the number of registered congressmen was about a quarter below the 2019 numbers. major international eventsas these can only be arranged well in advance and international travel must be possible without hindrance.
Culture and sports brought group tourism
Particularly strong and very short-term demand was noticeable in the area of group travel. Although it is extremely important for tourism in the city culture and events still limited in the first months of the year, from spring onwards, numerous cultural, sports and other events were able to take place again, which are largely responsible for the good result. Grazer also brought additional overnight stays Advent and New Year’s Eve events with the new year show.
Campsite for Graz
After one of the major trends in tourism in the city is camping, work has been going on for some time to establish a campsite in Graz. In Vienna, for example, you can see there’s a big increase in both locations there. “There have already been conversations with two potential operators who have expressed interest. I asked the urban planners to scour the zoning plan in search of suitable properties”, reveals the tourism councilor Gunter Riegler.
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