Within the last five years, the number of guests from the UAE has almost doubled. The most popular tourist attractions and destinations for guests from the GCC are our capital Vienna and the region of Zell am See/Kaprun, where, thanks to the glacier, you can experience snow even in the summertime. Furthermore, the city of Salzburg, which is the birthplace of Mozart, and the city of Innsbruck surrounded by beautiful mountain chains are hugely popular amongst travellers from the UAE and of course, the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Tyrol, which is also the most mountainous region in Austria.

As most travellers go either to Vienna or the west of Austria, I would recommend them to discover the south of Austria. For example, there is Carinthia in the south bordered by Italy and Slovenia with beautiful mountains and lakes. Or, for example, the city of Graz in Styria, which is actually Austria's second biggest city and has a lot to offer when it comes, for example, to culture and culinary offers. The surrounding region is also very green and pleasant.

We did count 123,000 arrivals that generated 409,000 overnights spend in Austria in 2018. This is the second-best result so far from the UAE. In 2019, currently we do notice a slight growth compared to the year before (+1.5 % in arrivals +9.5 % in overnights).

For Austrians, the UAE is a popular holiday destination and the same goes for Emiratis when it comes to Austria. The Austrians like the warm climate, modern architecture and desert landscapes and guests from the UAE like the green hills, clear lakes, fresh air and impressive mountain ranges as well as our historical cities. What unites both countries is the genuine hospitality when it comes to the visitors (and also, for example, the coffee culture).

The air connectivity is superb. There are two daily flights by Emirates from Dubai to Vienna and three daily flights to Munich in Germany where you can reach the west of Austria (e.g. Salzburg or Innsbruck) in two hours by car. There will also be a new direct flight by Air Arabia once a week from September. That will, for sure, be beneficial for the tourism sector of both sides. With other airlines like Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa, you can also travel conveniently with one stop to Austria. For e.g. Turkish Airlines flies to three airports in Austria (Salzburg, Vienna, Graz).

The Austrian National Tourist Office in Dubai is promoting Austria as a tourism destination in different ways. There are a number of online campaigns going on in the GCC for the whole year to promote Austria. Also, there are cooperations with airlines, events and roadshows for the travel trade, press and end consumers. One new project for 2020 is to create an app for the travel trade and end consumer to get basic information about Austria (e.g. flight connections, visa regulations, information about destinations and where to book) from a trusted source.

The Austrian Embassy works on each and every application very thoroughly and makes it easy for applicants to submit additional documents in case missing requirements have not been met by them. Nevertheless, we urge all applicants to submit their applications with all required and supporting documents ahead of time, especially in summertime, to avoid any delays with regards to their holidays.

Whether travelling for business or leisure, a trip always enriches you in terms of meeting new people, broadening your knowledge and understanding of other cultures, tasting new recipes and accommodating with new surroundings. Therefore, I would recommend people to visit all possible countries whether around you or far away. It's worth it anywhere. In Austria, for example, you have many possibilities to enjoy your holiday, whether in the nature, visiting historic places and fun parks for kids or just enjoy a nice Melange with Sacher-Torte. There is everything for everyone.

I was very excited when I received the news to be transferred to the UAE, since I had heard and read a lot about the UAE and its fast development in the last 40 years. And to tell you the truth, I don't regret it. It is a unique and very interesting time for me and for my family to be here. I love the desert and mountains, especially the excavation work in the Eastern region. Abu Dhabi has a lot to offer, and we enjoy discovering all the wonderful places in the UAE. I have met many interesting people and admire the multicultural society and peacefulness of the UAE.