ENIT takes center stage in Vienna for the 20th anniversary of the Corps Touristique Austria

Italy is promoting itself in the Austrian market through networking, meetings with tourism professionals and communication initiatives dedicated to the country’s excellence and travel experiences. In 2025, 3.3 million Austrian tourists chose Italy, generating 11.4 million overnight stays.

ENIT took part in the 20th edition of the Corps Touristique Austria gala evening, one of the most important events for networking and professional relations within Austria’s tourism industry. The event was held in the prestigious setting of the Casino Zögernitz – House of Strauss in Vienna, bringing together around 200 industry representatives, including 80 buyers and 60 media professionals, as well as tourism operators, journalists and representatives of national tourism boards.

Organised by Corps Touristique Austria, the association that brings together tourism boards active in the Austrian market, the evening celebrated twenty years of activity, confirming its role as an important opportunity for meetings, dialogue and collaboration between international destinations and key players in the travel industry.

On the occasion of the gala, ENIT showcased Italy’s tourism heritage through a series of communication initiatives aimed at industry professionals and the Austrian public.

These included Italy’s presence in the digital brochure produced in collaboration with the Austrian newspaper Die Presse, as part of the Winter 2026 edition dedicated to Geheimtipps, or insider travel tips and experiences not to be missed. The digital brochure will remain available online until March 2027, ensuring continued visibility for the destination beyond the event. View the digital brochure

The editorial space dedicated to Italy made it possible to showcase the richness and diversity of the country’s tourism offering, with particular attention to authentic experiences, lesser-known destinations and year-round travel opportunities. From walking routes and slow tourism itineraries to historic railways and the natural and cultural beauty of Southern Italy, the content highlighted travel ideas capable of appealing to visitors looking for new experiences.

Promotion was further strengthened by the screening of a video dedicated to Italy during the evening, providing visibility for the Italia.it portal and the ENIT brand, and helping to showcase the country’s landscape and tourism excellence in a highly qualified international setting.

The evening also provided an important opportunity for discussion on trends in the Austrian tourism market and new opportunities for collaboration between tourism promotion bodies, tour operators and communication professionals.

The Austrian market continues to represent a strategic and growing source market for Italian tourism. According to ENIT Research Department estimates based on ISTAT data, in 2025 tourist arrivals from Austria reached 3.3 million, generating 11.4 million overnight stays. Compared with 2019, arrivals increased by 23.8% and overnight stays by 19.2%, demonstrating the growing interest of Austrian travellers in Italy as a destination.

Growth is evident in both the hotel sector, which recorded 2.1 million arrivals and 6.6 million overnight stays, and the non-hotel accommodation sector, which proved particularly dynamic, with 1.2 million arrivals (+55% compared with 2019) and 4.7 million overnight stays (+35.3%). This development highlights the progressive diversification of accommodation preferences and growing interest in forms of hospitality that encourage a more authentic and widespread discovery of the territory.

The average length of stay of Austrian tourists stood at 3.5 nights in 2025, compared with 3.6 nights in 2019, indicating that growth in tourism flows was driven mainly by the increase in arrivals and by slightly shorter average stays.

Positive signals are also emerging in terms of air connectivity: according to ENIT Research Department estimates based on ForwardKeys data, 263,000 airport arrivals from Austria were forecast for the first half of 2026, up 1.8% compared with the same period of the previous year and accounting for 1.2% of total forecast airport arrivals in Italy.

These figures confirm the importance of the Austrian market for Italy’s tourism offering, also thanks to geographical proximity and the wide range of experiences the country can offer, from cultural and food-and-wine tourism to nature-based, outdoor and sustainable travel.

The Vienna initiative therefore helped to strengthen Italy’s visibility in the Austrian market, highlighting the country’s excellence and the travel experiences that make Italy a unique destination on the international tourism landscape.