While many travellers associate Austria with skiing in the winter, agents can tap into a new campaign that showcases the destination’s wide range of warmer weather offerings.
With an almost endless supply of outdoor activities, Austria is a tempting summer holiday destination for families, solo travellers and outdoor enthusiasts. Surrounded by stunning mountain peaks, lush valleys and crystal-clear lakes, they can enjoy walking, cycling, mountain biking or cooling off in the pristine water, with options to suit all fitness levels.
And after they’ve worked up an appetite, Austria’s delicious local cuisine will be waiting – from scrumptious apple strudel to decadent Sachertorte and classic meat dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel.
To highlight the array of summer activities available, Austria Tourism has launched its Lebensgefühl campaign. It takes its name from the Austrian people’s special outlook on life, as locals are famed for their light and free attitude, full of fun and joie de vivre – known as Lebensgefühl.
Visitors will be immersed in Lebensgefühl as they meet Austrians throughout their trip and enjoy their welcoming hospitality. The new campaign showcases how a summer break in Austria will help reignite guests’ spark, and there are a host of holidays agents can promote that embody Lebensgefühl.
One of the best ways clients can clear their mind and embrace the Lebensgefühl way of life is to immerse themselves in the Austrian mountains. Nearly two thirds of Austria’s landscape consists of high alpine mountains, which are home to activities for all tastes and ability levels.
Paznaun-Ischgl in Tirol is known as a skiing hub, but as the summer season extends from June to mid-October, travellers have plenty of time to experience alternative Alpine experiences. The picturesque villages of Ischgl, Galtür, Kappl and See are the perfect locations to sample several holiday experiences in one. Your clients can enjoy family fun at Sunny Mountain Adventure Park, take a sunrise hike followed by a tasty mountain breakfast, or e-bike around scenic Lake Berligsee. With 37 bike routes available, the destination is ideal for those looking to explore on two wheels.
Agents can now experience Lebensgefühl first-hand, as Austria Tourism and the Paznaun-Ischgl Region are giving away a three-night stay for two to experience summer holidays in the midst of the impressive Tirolean mountains.
In summer there are more than 75 hiking routes spanning 1,000km in and around Ischgl at the Silvretta Arena. They include options for families, designed to make exploring the great outdoors more fun for children.
Visitors can refuel at the numerous restaurants, inns and huts across Ischgl, choosing from traditional Tyrolean and international specialities, all served with heartfelt Austrian hospitality.
In Tirol’s capital of Innsbruck, guests can enjoy both a city and nature break. Recommend taking the cable car up the Nordkette in the morning and watching the town come to life, before heading back down for some sightseeing, and sampling Tirol’s culinary delights on a foodie tour with a local guide.
Austria is home to stunning lakes with crystal-clear water, which are the perfect spot to soak up Lebensgefühl, whether guests choose to swim, paddle, surf, sail, or simply sunbathe at the beach.
Salzkammergut is known as Austria’s Lake District, boasting more than 70 lakes surrounded by forests, alpine meadows, historical towns and impressive mountain ranges. The most famous lakes are close together, so clients can easily visit several within one trip. Recommend exploring Mondsee, Fuschlsee, Wolfgangsee, Attersee, Traunseer and Hallstättersee.
To sample the warmest lakes, suggest heading to Austria’s most southern province of Carinthia. The Klopeiner See is the toastiest, with a water temperature of up to 28 degrees Celsius in the summer. And with its various water sport facilities and entertainment, the region is a great option for families.
Zell am See-Kaprun boasts the colourful alpine pastures of the Schmittenhöhe mountain, a snow-covered glacier and the rich blue Lake Zell. It encapsulates the diversity of epic Austria’s scenery, which is just waiting to bring out your clients’ Lebensgefühl this summer.