Tourism

Large-scale work stoppages in North Rhine-Westphalia's local public transport system due to stalled wage negotiations.

Public transport in North Rhine-Westphalia is facing a massive disruption. The Verdi union has called for a two-day, statewide warning strike starting today, Monday, and continuing into Tuesday, which will significantly restrict the mobility of millions of commuters and students. While the focus on the first day of the strike will be on administrative departments and customer service centers,

March 16, 2026 12:37

Strategies for stabilizing the German rail network: Task force presents catalog of measures

The reliability of German rail transport has been under considerable pressure for some time. To counteract the chronic delays and operational bottlenecks, the Reliable Rail expert group appointed by Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder has now presented a comprehensive draft of its final report. The panel, consisting of representatives from the federal government, the states, industry associations, and trade unions, identifies

March 16, 2026 11:38

Strategic route adjustments in the cruise sector due to regional instability in the Middle East

Leading cruise lines Aida Cruises and Costa Crociere have made a far-reaching decision regarding their planning for the 2026/2027 winter season, canceling all planned itineraries in the Gulf region. The reason for this early action is the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East, which makes reliable travel planning for this period impossible.

March 16, 2026 07:34

Holland America Line will focus on larger capacities and expedition-style sailings from 2027 onwards.

The cruise industry is realigning its capacities for the coming years, with the South American market and the Antarctic region playing a particularly central role. Holland America Line has announced that it will significantly increase its presence in these waters starting in autumn 2027. This will be achieved through the deployment of the Nieuw Amsterdam, a ship of the so-called Signature class,

March 16, 2026 05:39

Lower Austria is focusing on the strategic use of public holidays in the 2026 tourism year.

The state of Lower Austria is intensifying its marketing efforts for extended weekends and so-called "bridge days" for the upcoming tourist season. The aim of this strategy is to strengthen the regional economy by increasing the length of stay for domestic and international visitors. The months of April and May, in particular, offer significant potential due to the concentration of [missing information].

March 16, 2026 05:06

ÖBB expands its fleet of battery-powered multiple units for use in Lower Austria

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is continuing to drive forward the technical modernization of its rolling stock on regional branch lines. The order for seven additional Stadler Flirt Akku units will accelerate the move away from conventional drive technologies on non-electrified sections of track. This measure is part of a long-term strategy aimed at...

March 16, 2026 04:39

DDSG brings Schlager fans to the Danube

The Austrian shipping company DDSG Blue Danube has expanded its themed cruise portfolio this year to include cruises featuring German pop music (Schlager). The company is clearly aiming to attract a target group for whom it previously had no comparable offering. In addition to live entertainment, an all-you-can-eat buffet is also available on board. As is well known, opinions on German pop music vary widely.

March 14, 2026 14:35

The results of the Lower Austrian ski season 2025/2026 show a significant increase in visitors.

The winter season in Lower Austria's ski resorts is drawing to a close, delivering a positive overall result despite low natural snowfall across the country. The Annaberg lifts, the Mönichkirchen adventure park, and the ski areas at Semmering Hirschenkogel and Ötscher in Lackenhof will remain open until next Sunday, March 15, 2026. One exception...

March 13, 2026 19:01

New industry award “Tourism Stars” attracts record interest

The newly created "Tourism Stars" award, which will recognize outstanding achievements in the Austrian leisure industry for the first time in April 2026, is already enjoying considerable success in the nomination phase. By the beginning of March, over 400 nominations had been received from all nine federal states. The range of nominees is broad and includes both long-established hotels in

March 13, 2026 16:08

Austrian city tourism is consolidating its role as an economic stabilizing factor.

Tourism in Austria's major cities proved to be a key driver of the national economy in 2025. With a total of 29,1 million overnight stays, the nine state capitals recorded a significant increase of six percent compared to the previous year. This means that almost one in five overnight stays in Austria took place in urban areas.

March 13, 2026 14:07