Tyrol-endorsing Russians pick upmarket hotels
More than four out of 10 Russians spending their winter holidays in Austria choose four and five star hotels, it has been announced.The Tyrolean Tourism Marketing said today (Weds) 43 per cent of tourists from Russia book into the two most exclusive categories of hotels.Tyrol is the most popular destination in Austria for Russians with 40 per cent of all their overnight stays in the country being registered in the Alpine province. Tyrol recorded 433,000 overnight stays by 55,000 Russians in the previous winter season.The skiing hotspots Tourism Marketing board said the number of Russian guests had doubled since the 2004/2005 season.The provinces Ötz Valley and the skiing resort of Mayrhofen its Ziller Valley are the most popular destinations for Russian holidaymakers who stay an average seven days.Several hotel and restaurant bosses changed their culinary portfolio to ensure they meet the demands of Russian tourists which slightly differ from other holidaymakers in some regards.”Russians want all on their tables at the same time instead of a menu of several courses. Some also tuck into their desserts before eating the starters,” one hotel manager said, adding that he makes sure the bar never runs out of vodka.Richard Walter, head of the Tyrolean Ski Instructors Association, meanwhile, warned of too few Russian-speaking coaches.While around 11,000 Russians spent their Christmas holidays in the province of Salzburg after arriving with scheduled flights and private jets, most Russians picking Carinthia arrived by car, according to local tourism marketing officials.Some Carinthian authorities now say a chartered flight offer which brought wealthy Russians to the province 14 years ago was cancelled after just one year. Comparably few Russians are spending their winter vacations in the southern province this season.Reports have it some hotel bosses prefer the number of Russian and Ukrainian tourists to stay low over fears they could scare away regular guests from Austria and Germany.The federal capital Vienna is at the same time becoming increasingly popular with Russian tourists. The city recorded 34,000 overnight stays by Russians in November 2010, up by a whopping 52 per cent year on year.