With China's lifting of its pandemic-era travel bans on individuals and groups, Austria is expecting an increase in tourists from the far east.

With its grand imperial architecture, classical music and schnitzel, for many Chinese the Austrian capital is at the top of their bucket list. It was a romantic trip that many had to postpone due to Covid travel bans, leaving Vienna's tour guides short of work.

"We are very optimistic about their coming gradually, especially during the holiday season - the so-called 'golden week' of China," tourist guide Yue Mayr told CGTN.

Despite high inflation and staff shortages, Austria's tourism is booming. In recent months the country registered its most overnight stays in over forty years, with highest growth seen in Vienna and the surrounding wine-growing regions.

Matthias Schwindl, from Vienna's tourist board, says Chinese visitors are particularly welcome due to their high spending habits while overseas. "For China we see great potential for luxury travel - people coming to Vienna and spending a lot of money," he told CGTN. It's money that has been dearly missed by the city's high-end businesses. 

This autumn and winter, climate change might mean more tourists choose a shopping tour over ski lifts. Some of Austria's biggest ski resorts already register more visitors in summer than winter. 

"In winter time increasing temperatures lead to less snow, especially in low elevations, meaning that ski resorts are moving higher up," says meteorologist Marc Olefs from GeoSphere Austria. "In summer time this means more favorable temperatures for outdoor activities, and in spring and autumn, such as mountain biking or hiking."

While overall Austria's tourism is slowly shifting, one thing remains constant: the appeal of the country's beautiful capital city.

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