(ANSA) - BOLZANO/BOZEN, JANUARY 27 - Tourism is growing strongly in Austria. The threshold of 150 million overnight stays was exceeded for the first time in 2019. Compared to 2018, there was an increase of 1.9%, thus reaching 152.64 million. The overnight stays of tourists from abroad grew by 2.1% (112.72m), the Austrian ones by1.4% (39.93m). The arrivals also increased (up 3%), reaching 46.18 million. The main markets remain Germany, ahead of Austria, the US, Italy, UK, Spain, and China.

There are growing concerns about coronavirus, especially after the stop to all-inclusive travel imposed by Beijing. Walter Strasser (WienTourismus) told the news agency APA that he was expecting a temporary setback. The drop in Chinese tourists would hit Vienna at the forefront, but it would also affect on the picturesque town of Hallstatt in the Salzkammergut. For the moment, however, there is no drop in arrivals even at Vienna airport. The overnight stays of Chinese tourists in 2019 recorded an increase of 5.6% (1.5 million). (ANSA).