Vienna is transforming: luxury tourism instead of mass entries!

Vienna is transforming: luxury tourism instead of mass entries!

Vienna, the city of culture and historical heritage, has fundamentally revised its tourism strategy. Instead of relying on mass tourism, the city is now targeting wealthy cultural enthusiasts. A central component of this development is the “Visitor Economy Strategy 2025”, which was introduced in 2019 and is now considered an international model. This strategy aims to increase value added per guest and promote sustainable growth. According to the motto “Optimum Tourism”, the Vienna Tourism Association wants to create the right balance between residents and visitors, as boerse-express.com reports.

The new strategy has proven itself during the pandemic and will now be continued with the clear goal of attracting an audience with purchasing power. Nine out of ten Viennese support this realignment and see it as an opportunity to strengthen the city's infrastructure and allow tourism to flow specifically into the local economy. Ultimately, Vienna wants to shine as a premium destination for discerning travelers who are looking for authentic insights into the Viennese way of life.

Exclusive offers for culture lovers

The offer for visitors includes a variety of exclusive experiences. These include private tours of art collections outside opening hours, visits to designer studios and tailor-made architectural tours through the city's charming “neighborhoods”. The culinary side is also very exciting: from private cooking courses for traditional Viennese pastries to exquisite wine tastings from renowned Viennese winemakers, guests can look forward to a tasteful journey. The Vienna Tourism Angel team emphasizes that this new approach not only serves to control tourism, but also integrates the local population into the design in order to achieve harmonious co-existence, as wien.info notes.

In addition, Vienna will create personalized offers that meet the needs of guests through the use of intelligent visitor guidance systems and data analysis. The goal? To make Vienna known for its unique experiences in the present and not just to emphasize the past. In 2024, the city recorded eight million overnight stays, which underlines Vienna's attractiveness.

Sustainability as part of the new luxury

The trend towards sustainable luxury is also increasingly being noticed in Vienna. Like trend researcher Li Edelkoort destaca, luxury is increasingly associated with proximity to nature and the appreciation of the unique. An intact environment and untouched nature are considered a privilege and are seen as a great asset in the travel context. According to greenpearls.com, tourism players have started to offer sustainable products and services that take both environmental and social aspects into account.

This new concept of luxury places emphasis on mindfulness and responsibility. Vienna aims to meet the new demands by addressing the needs of environmentally conscious travelers while taking local culture into account. The focus on sustainable tourism combined with responsible use of resources will make Vienna a pioneer in this movement and further put the city on the international map of premium destinations.

Overall, it is clear that the change in Vienna's tourism is not only a necessity, but also a great opportunity. As we move towards becoming a cultural capital that knows how to offer a good life to both locals and tourists, it will be exciting to see how this strategy evolves.