19 February 2008

Austria expects football fever even without England

England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 is expected to stimulate overall British holiday bookings to Austria this summer, the Austrian National Tourist Office claims.

With none of the home nationals qualifying for the tournament being shared between Austria and Switzerland in June, visitor numbers were expected to be limited.

But as many as 15,000 Brits are expected to travel to the host countries, even though their teams did not qualify, according to the ANTO.

Austria's reputation for hosting international events and throwing parties might be part of the reason for this phenomenon, according to the tourist office in the wake of a UEFA EURO 2008 Road Show in London.

And as June is still outside the main holiday season, most UK tour operators offering Lakes & Mountains holidays are now offering attractive packages for the period. Travellers can then add individual day trips to the respective host cities 'âœ Innsbruck, Salzburg, Klagenfurt and Vienna.

The cultural programmes surrounding the football are also expected to attract day trip visitors on package holidays.

The programme will includes a literature festival, the football opera Playing Away by British composer Benedict Mason, the opening of the fan zone on Vienna by the Viennese Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna's Boys Choir, performances by Placido Domingo and Rolando Villazon and an Elton John concert, which will feature football legends Franz Beckenbauer and Michel Platini.

Tourist office CEO Petra Stolba said: 'The '˜Fan Mile' was one of the innovations that caught the public's imagination during the Wold Cup in Germany. And we Austrians are known for being able to organise a good party.

'I'm confident that the fan zones in Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Klagenfurt as well as the unique public viewing area on the floating stage of the Bregenz Festival on Lake Constance 'âœ where 60.000 tickets have already been sold 'âœ will live up to anybody's expectations.'

by Phil Davies