[Press release and Very handy, since I will be visiting Austria next month! I will take part in the harvest for two days, at the Remushof in Oslip, Burgenland.]
Yesterday, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) has launched the largest wine tourism platform in the country. Travel tips for every region – from the Weinviertel to Steiermark and along the Danube to the Neusiedler See – can be found at austrianwine.com under the category Wine & Travel.
Rising Economic Importance of Wine Tourism
Holiday time in Austria is inextricably linked with the typical Austrian hospitality and the country’s culinary diversity. Gourmets from all over the world are attracted by the unique regional foods here. And particular attention is paid to wine as a prime Austrian speciality.
“Although wine travel is still a niche product in Austria, the signs are clearly pointing to growth,” says Petra Stolba, managing director of the Austrian National Tourist Office. “Because travelling to the wine and enjoying such a very special way of life correspond exactly to the spirit of our guests.”
“By extending our website austrianwine.com with the new tool, Wine & Travel, the AWMB supports exactly this tourism trend,” says AWMB’s general manager, Willi Klinger. “From the 131 million overnight stays per year, more than 2 million of them represent wine and culinary holiday makers. I estimate that the turnover generated by wine tourists is approximately € 500 million.”
The new tool is available in the German and English languages, which is useful for all guests from Austria and its bordering neighbour countries, from Switzerland to Hungary. But also wine tourists from other countries in Europe, including the CEE area, Benelux, Scandinavia and Great Britain, as well as from overseas – including the USA, Japan, China and Australia – should also find it easier to travel in Austria’s wine regions because of this new tool.
Comprehensive network data bases for the maximum experience
Wine travels in Austria is an all-round experience: the romantic landscapes, vineyards and cellar lanes together with fine food and good wine provide for a popular tourist and travel adventure for guests from home and abroad. Here, the complete range of natural, cultural and special attractions play an important role.
The new online tool from the AWMB – at austrianwine.com under the category “Wine & Travel” – connects Austria’s top wineries and wine data bases with the data bases of the Austrian National Tourist Board and the most important gastronomic guides, accommodation possibilities and the numerous sights and attractions in all of the wine regions.
User integration ensures continuous up-to-date relevance
“Wine & Travel” offers interesting destination points (such as Winemakers, Wines, Vinotheques, Hotels and Gastronomy) which can be combined into a route. A key component is the “web 2.0” tool, which allows users to be constantly integrated with all of the website functions. Users have the option to save their own profiles and routes, to upload to existing route and destination photos and videos as well as leave their comments and ratings. If users know of attractive and interesting destinations that are not listed in the Wine & Travel data base, these can be proposed and created for many of the categories.