More than third choose to holiday at home

A recent Spectra survey, in collaboration with the Institute of Leisure and Tourism, questioned 1,015 people over the age of 15. They found that last winter 80 percent didn’t take a holiday.

And for the first time in ten years the number of people booking a ski holiday declined, with 25 percent of people choosing holidays in southern Europe, for the warmer climate.

"For winter destinations it is now getting serious," warned Institute Director Peter Zellmann. “The classic ski holiday seems to be losing importance,” he added.

When it comes to summer holidays most Austrians are interested in swimming and sunbathing. Of the 59 percent who did travel somewhere last summer, 42 percent said they went in search of sun.

City breaks became more popular, with 11 percent opting for an urban adventure, up from eight percent the previous year. But only six percent opted for a traditional hiking holiday, and only five percent chose a health and wellness break.