Austrian businesses and hotels have been promoting Vienna as a Spring Festival getaway – targeting both locals and Chinese visitors as they hope to turn the holiday period into a boost for winter tourism.

For the first time, Hotel Imperial – one of Vienna's most prominent luxury hotels – organized a lion dance in the lobby with festive costumes and professional entertainers in what hotel manager Thomas van Opstal called a "spectacular". 

"I think it's important for the whole world to do this," Opstal told CGTN. "When I lived in Hong Kong, a lot of hotels did Oktoberfest. It brings the world together."

Van Opstal even prepared envelopes with coins, in line with the Chinese New Year tradition. Besides creating an exotic atmosphere for European guests, this marketing campaign is especially tailored for tourists from China. 

'We're trying more and more to attract Chinese visitors," he said. "It's a fantastic market obviously, the Chinese like to travel."

It's not only during the Spring Festival that hotels and businesses in Vienna are set to see more Chinese visitors. They've recently been the fastest growing market for Viennese tourism, with twice as many arrivals last autumn than the year before – although those numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels.

Tourist arrivals also depend on the number of flight connections, which Van Opstal insists should be expanded. 

"I was recently in Asia for a sales trip," the hotel manager said. "The feedback that I got is that it's difficult to get seats on the aircrafts." 

Most recently, China Eastern said it will launch a new direct flight connection from the Central Chinese city of Xi'an to the Austrian capital in April – which should provide a further boost in tourism.

Meanwhile, at the beginning of February, Vienna's first Spring Festival street parade immersed the city's largest shopping center Donauzentrum in a festive atmosphere, inviting consumers to play the drums and learn more about martial arts from east Asia.

"Celebrations and parties are very popular, which fits in well with consumer culture," Vienna resident Christian told CGTN while watching a lion dance outside the shopping mall. It's all part of an increasingly Chinese aspect of Austria's capital.