“Alpine Destination Report” Prodinger Analyzes Development Opportunities In Top Alpine Regions

How are things going in the top holiday areas in the Alps, what tourist potential lies behind them and what can the real estate industry expect in these regions? A new report from Prodinger Tourism Consulting provides answers to these questions, providing precise statements on the development of Alpine destinations based on a well-founded data analysis. A total of 21 leading Alpine regions - from Lech-Zürs to the Schladming-Dachstein region - are subjected to comprehensive benchmarking based on the three main criteria of "supply & demand", "price level" and "attractiveness". This provides groundbreaking insights into the strategic orientation of companies and destinations. The ranking offers a valuable basis for making strategic decisions, especially for investors. The report shows, as co-author Thomas Reisenzahn and managing director of Prodinger Tourism Consulting emphasizes, that Austria's position as a leading holiday destination in Europe can be further strengthened in the long term through targeted investments and innovative concepts.

Meaningful benchmarking of the top domestic regions

The criteria underlying the analysis were weighted differently (attractiveness 40 points, supply & demand and price level 30 points each), which allows a holistic assessment that takes into account both economic-quantitative and qualitative factors. The focus is not only on classic assessment criteria such as the number of overnight stays and the number of beds available, but also on differentiated aspects such as the number of kilometers of slopes, snow reliability or ski pass and overnight prices.

At the top of the ranking are the destinations Ötztal, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis and Lech-Zürs/Warth-Schröcken, which impress with high scores in several categories. The Ötztal achieved first place with an optimal mix of attractive tourist infrastructure, solid demand and a corresponding price level.

Regions such as Schladming-Dachstein, Seefeld, Wilder Kaiser and Zell am See - Kaprun score particularly well in the "supply & demand" category. The decisive criteria here are high bed occupancy and low seasonality. "Destinations with this character are less susceptible to seasonal fluctuations and offer long-term stability," emphasizes co-author Florian Kirchner from Prodinger Tourism Consulting.

The "price level" reflects the willingness of guests to spend as well as the economic positioning of the destinations. The average turnover per bed and credit card transactions per guest (the latter provided anonymously by card complete Service Bank AG) were used to determine guests' willingness to spend. A good balance between exclusivity and affordability is ideal. Lech-Zürs/Warth-Schröcken leads the field here, followed by Kitzbühel and St. Anton am Arlberg.

In the "Attractiveness" category, qualitative winter sports-oriented factors such as kilometers of slopes, altitude and the opening days of the cable cars or ski areas play a central role. The Ötztal, Pitztal and St. Anton am Arlberg are at the top here and show how important an attractive offer and the natural conditions are for overall success. Nevertheless, a diversified program encourages repeat visits to the destination.

Reliable basis for strategic investments in real estate

In addition to their tourist appeal, the Alpine regions are becoming increasingly important as locations for real estate, as the demand for leisure and holiday homes is constantly increasing. Against this background, the Alpine Destination Report aims to evaluate the regions examined from a real estate perspective. The comprehensive benchmarking approach allows relevant economic and demographic indicators such as regional income levels and local real estate prices to be used in addition to tourism data. This makes it possible to clearly depict competitiveness and development opportunities.

As the report shows, the established domestic destinations are doing well in international comparison, but there is certainly potential for improvement, particularly with regard to seasonality and the challenge of increasing competition. This requires investment in infrastructure and quality management.

The detailed study offers investors a unique basis for business decisions regarding demand potential, price segmentation and increasing attractiveness.

"The results of the Alpine Destination Report make it possible to develop sustainable growth strategies. With a clear understanding of regional strengths and weaknesses, decision-makers can actively and profitably shape the future of tourism in the Alps," says Marco Riederer, summarizing the importance of the comprehensive analysis.

Download Alpine Destination Report 2025 here