Mayor Ludwig sees Vienna as the "European Christmas Capital"

City and Economic Chamber Stresses the Importance of Retail Tourism and Advent for the Place of Business

Christmas markets, festive street lighting and ice skating on the town hall square: the Christmas season in Vienna is an experience not only for locals, year after year. Even tourists from around the world love to come to Vienna in November and December to immerse themselves in the spirit of Christmas. Our thanks go to the great offer of cooperation of the city of Vienna and the economic chamber of Vienna during the advent. Each year, they create new accents to make Vienna the "European Christmas Capital" – with positive effects on the urban economy. Mayor Michael Ludwig and Vienna Chamber of Commerce President Walter Ruck spoke today at the Kärntner Straße "Sky Bar" about the benefits of the Christmas boom for retailers in Vienna. Then they symbolically lit the Christmas lights of Kärntner Straße.

Ludwig said at the press conference that the tourism industry had benefited from the boom in the Christmas market: in the previous year, the national hotel industry had registered 1.4 million overnight stays in December, which corresponds to a 60% increase over the last ten years. According to the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, President Ruck, the retail sector was happy to achieve a turnover of 350 million euros in 2017. Christmas activity alone provides about 1,900 jobs in Vienna.

Christkindl's 20 markets in the city have contributed greatly to the Christmas boom, Ludwig added. A major role played in particular the Viennese Christmas dream in the Town Hall Square. The previous year, it had attracted 3.7 million visitors and this year it will still have a lot to offer: "It's not just the 150 stalls offering culinary and craft specialties. Art that attracts visitors, and the ice room is a special event for all .Experience, especially for children and teens, "said Ludwig. Therefore, the ice surface of the "Little Ice Dream" of schools, kindergartens and reservations on the 10 am to 4 pm teaching days must be free of use, said the mayor. In addition to the world of children, the Rathauspark also offers its first "cradle path" this year, which pbades twelve ancient cradles and provides valuable information about them.

This year there will also be a colorful program for young and old at the Volkshalle at Vienna City Hall: "Children have the right to cook and cook, and the Christ child also reads Christmas stories. There will also be a wish tree where children can express their Christmas wishes, "says Ludwig.

Source: City of Vienna