A European country has been named the busiest tourist destination in the world, and the result is surprising. Unlike classic holiday destinations such as Spain or Greece, this country is landlocked. However, it attracts an impressive number of visitors.
The country has a population of nine million, while 32 million international tourists come here every year. In 2024, a survey by MoneyTransfers.com found that for every resident there are almost four times as many tourists. This gives a ratio of one resident to 3.6 tourists. The country that received this title is Austria, and most tourists are concentrated in its capital, Vienna.
Known as the ‘City of Dreams’, it’s no wonder millions come to explore it. Attractions in the city include Schönbrunn Palace, the Vienna State Opera and the Museum of Natural History, the express writes.
The Austrian capital is full of beautiful baroque architecture, historical monuments and a vibrant nightlife thanks to its bustling bars and restaurants. Fortunately, the city is used to dealing with large numbers of visitors.
But other areas of the country are also becoming popular. Hallstatt, a small town known for its picturesque Alpine houses, waterfalls and salt lakes, all framed by a beautiful snow-capped mountain range, is among the places that see a huge influx of tourists.
The city is rumored to have been the inspiration for the Kingdom of Arendelle in the Disney movie ‘Frozen’.
The lake in Hallstatt has become a viral spot for selfies, and in an attempt to reduce the number of tourists, wooden fences have been installed to block the view.
Backlash soon followed on social media, and the fences were later removed.
In a statement to the local website Upper Austrian News in 2023, Mayor Scheutz said: “the only thing that would help is for the shooting point to stop being a shooting point.”
More than a million tourists have visited Hallstatt since it was rumored to be connected to “Frozen.” The town, which is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has approximately 800 residents.
Before the pandemic, foot traffic in the city reached about 10,000 visitors per day.
The mayor of Hallstatt, Alexander Scheutz, decided to introduce a limit on the number of coaches and cars allowed to enter the area.
