What is a "sustainable holiday"? It means treating resources and nature in a way that future generations will still have the chance to experience Austria's quality of life.
Mountains, lakes, and hospitality - that's what Austria is for us. And for our guests. Taking care of clean water and air as well as a responsible use of our resources is key for both nature and Austria as a popular holiday destination. Austria is a precious natural paradise: To preserve it, a sense of responsibility, many concrete measures and the courage to make changes that benefit the environment are essential.
Everything guests love about holidays in Austria is carefully considered and well-balanced by their hosts. The motto is "high-quality simplicity".
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Local hosts are proud of their products and the way they treat their guests. A fair working environment is key.
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Regional products, clean air to breathe, protected natural areas and healthy biodiversity: This is what sustainable holidays look like in Austria.
Read moreBeing close to nature and enjoying the natural and cultural landscapes in a biodiverse world is key for more and more people. And in Austria, they'll find exactly that kind of environment. There are countless projects aiming to maintain and keep improving sustainable products and services. The goal: To make Austria an all-round sustainable holiday destination for locals, guests and hosts alike. There are three core visions:
The main tools for reducing our carbon footprint as a tourist destination are zero emissions, a focus on public transport and environmentally-friendly forms of energy, achieved by state-of-the-art technologies.
The Boutiquehotel Stadthalle in Vienna is one of the prime examples of what this vision can look like in reality: It is the world's first hotel with a zero-energy balance in an urban area!
The passive house is heated with groundwater pumps and a solar system, while a photovoltaic system provides electricity.
Material treasures deserve just as much protection as the idealistic heritage. Maintaining traditions contributes significantly to reaching sustainability goals. Regional handicraft businesses play an important role in Austria, and are often happy to open their doors to visitors. Old craft techniques are brought back to life - and inspire guests and locals alike.
Austria's farmers provide a variety of regional products that are particularly appreciated by visitors. Take the so-called "Most barons" in Lower Austria's Mostviertel region for instance, who combine tradition with state-of-the-art cellar technology to produce exquisite pear "most" (pear cider). Their goal is to preserve the art of traditional cidre making in the Moststrasse region.
Guests value being well taken care of in an authentic environment, by hosts who know, live and appreciate the special traditions and costums of their region.
In the Hohe Tauern National Park, enthusiastic rangers are happy to share their knowledge of the regional nature reserve and biodiversity. As hiking guides, wildlife watchers and gourmets, they introduce their guests to both their natural surroundings and the seasonal cuisine. Authentic first-hand experiences are guaranteed.
"The products should be made and produced by people with a heart and a lot of love, then they taste better."Josef Floh, organic farmer from Lower Austria, who only purchases products within a 66 km radius.
Guests in the "Ländle" have long been mobile without a car! Shuttle services and hiking buses are modern, comfortable, and run frequently.
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Travel free of charge around the province! In the holiday regions Hohe Salve, Brixental, St. Johann in Tirol and Pillerseetal guest cards include regional transport.
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The WEINmobil offers a comprehensive shuttle service "door-to-door" throughout all five villages on the South Styrian Wine Route.
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Rail travel in Tirol is enjoyable, convenient, and hassle-free. Timetables and booking options can be found on the train companies' websites.
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Going on holidays without a car? The environment will thank you! And it's easy to get around car-free in many Austrian regions:
The Alpine Pearls - traffic-free places
Four charming villages in the Austrian Alps with a strong focus on climate protection and sustainability, allowing car- and carefree holidays. Hiking buses, valley and ski buses, hiking cabs and carriage rides are available. On top, e-bikes and regular bikes can be rented free of charge.
The Transdanube Pearls
A network of regions along the Danube in Upper Austria where guests can travel sustainably by bus, train, bike and boat.
Fresh, pure water is a treasure Austria is particularly proud of - unsurprisingly, therefore, the locals handle it with great care: 100% of Austria's water comes from springs and groundwater, it is crystal-clear and of great quality.
Countless measures have been taken for decades to maintain the excellent water quality of Austria's lakes. And the efforts have clearly paid off: The EU bathing water report certifies Austria's lakes excellent water quality. 99,2 % of 261 tested waters regularly receive the top ratings "excellent" and "good".
... by taking the train instead of a car you reduce your CO2 emissions by about 80%?
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... Austria has its very own emission calculator (in German only) that makes it easy to check your eco-footprint?
Carbon Calculator in English
... the Austrian Green Building Award honours sustainable construction? Energy efficiency and renewable sources are the key factors.
Read moreAustria's six national parks offer visitors the chance to discover nature in its original, untouched state first-hand.
From the longest gorge and the oldest national park to the largest bathing lake: where Austria's nature boasts superlatives. #feelAustria
Summers are becoming hotter, prompting initiatives such as those by the "Breathe Earth Collective" to bring a breath of fresh air to the cities.
Picnic under the stars, star gardens, star huts. Be bedazzled by the night sky at these places where stargazing becomes a true experience.
Economic Sustainability
