Vienna reported a growth of 10.3 per cent last year, reaching a new record level of 10,860,000 visitor overnights. All of Vienna’s core markets achieved growth – many of them with two-digit increases. Japan was the sole country among them that “only” reached the same result as 2009.

The top 10 list in Vienna’s overnight ranking is still headed by Germany (2,311,000, +11 per cent) ahead of Austria (2,245,000, +14 per cent), Italy (625,000, +12 per cent) and the USA (561,000, +11 per cent).

Of Vienna’s core markets, Russia contributed the highest growth of 35 per cent, ranking in 5th place with 384,000 bed nights. It is followed by the United Kingdom (373,000, + four per cent), Spain (331,000, +seven per cent), France (318,000, +12 per cent), Switzerland (307,000, +8 per cent) and Japan in 10th place (267,000, plus or minus 0 per cent).

Director of Tourism Norbert Kettner commenting on 2010’s record result said: “Of the 20 countries with the highest overnight figures, only three had fewer bed nights than in 2009.

“With 53 per cent, Serbia was the country with the highest rate of increase of all, though this was attributable to the abolition of compulsory visas at the beginning of 2010, followed by Russia with 35 per cent and Turkey with 34 per cent.

“I find the latter particularly gratifying, as we have increased our marketing effort in this promising market since 2008. However, other promising markets also reported significant in-creases: the Arabian countries in Asia, and Brazil, both with 21 per cent, and China with 28 per cent.”

All categories in the Vienna hospitality sector benefited from the positive results for the year. Average bed occupancy rose to 56.8 per cent, equivalent to a room occupancy of around 71 per cent.