2018 Vienna Meetings Industry Statistics: Induced Economic Impact Reaches New High Record Numbers of Events, Participants and Overnights

The Viennese meetings industry recorded its strongest ever performance in 2018: a new high for event numbers was matched by record highs in all key indicators.

Release time : 2019-04-11 11:45:36

source : Vienna

contribution to Austrian GDP increased once again, by 3%. In absolute terms, this means that the meetings held in Vienna during 2018 made a EUR 1.198 billion contribution to gross domestic product,” Hanke explained. The symbolic EUR 1 billion mark was exceeded for the first time in 2015 and economic impact has not fallen below that level since. Induced economic impact includes direct expenditure by participants, event organizers, exhibitors and accompanying persons, as well as income from upstream areas of the economy that is indirectly induced by the events (e.g. food and beverage suppliers, printers, construction companies, banks, insurance companies, communications companies, etc.). Since 2009, the contribution of the Vienna meetings industry to GDP has climbed by around 63%.

Meetings secure 21,500 jobs

“Vienna’s meetings industry is a dependable employer, securing over 21,500 year-round jobs nationwide. To put that in context: this is equivalent to the population of Amstetten, Hallein or Kufstein, and represents around 500 more jobs than in 2017,” said Hanke. “The record year for meetings in 2018 is a seamless extension of the capital’s outstanding overall tourism statistics - in all, the city reported 16.5 million overnights in 2018.”

© Vienna Tourist Board

Viennese supportive of capital’s role as a meetings destination

A sector that generates greater economic impact and more jobs year on year is looked upon favorably by the local population. In its ongoing survey of the local population’s attitudes to tourism (2018: 3,650 respondents aged 18-70), the Vienna Tourist Board also asked for their views on congresses in the capital. “We want to ensure that the growing tourism industry makes a positive contribution to this city’s development. 94% of Viennese have a favorable view of tourism. Feedback on meetings and congresses was highly positive, with three quarters of those asked