Vienna seeks over 50,000 Indian tourists by 2020

With a steady increase in the arrivals of Indian travellers in Vienna in the last six years, the Austrian capital is now focusing on young Indians in a bid to double the figure by 2020, officials said Monday.

Known for its music, culture and gardens, Vienna has seen the number of tourist arrivals more than double from over 11,000 in 2006 to around 25,000 in 2013 and the goal is to further increase the figure to over 50,000 by 2020.

"The city beckons honeymooners, conference attendees and young tourists from India. The numbers of Indian tourists have doubled in the last six years," said Norbert Kettner, director, Vienna Tourist Board (VTB).

According to the VTB, Vienna was ranked the world's most livable city for the fifth consecutive year, playing host to 5.8 million tourists in 2013, a growth of over four percent as compared to 2012. Zurich, Switzerland took second place, followed by Auckland, New Zealand.

Vienna, the former seat of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, is home to about 2,000 coffee houses, with many of the traditional ones in the old city center. The Vienna State Opera offers over 50 operas and ballet works amounting to 300 days per season.