VIENNA — Vienna’s tourism industry has just experienced its best year ever: 12.7 million overnight stays in 2013, 3.7% more than in 2012, represent a new all-time high.

With 120,000 bednights in 2013, Canada was up 4% on 2012.

Norbert Kettner, director of the Vienna Tourist Board said “the fact that we have been able to beat the accommodation record for Klimt Year 2012 is not only a reflection of Vienna’s continued attractiveness, but also demonstrates that our long-term systematic internationalization strategy of diversifying into many different markets is paying off”.

Vienna’s 10 main markets in 2013 were once again headed by Germany with 2,513,000 bednights (+5%), followed by Austria (2,327,000 bednights, +4%), Russia (709,000, +12%), the U.S. (658,000, +6%), and Italy (611,000, -5%).

During the period from December 2012 to December 2013, Vienna’s accommodation capacity grew by 3,450 beds (+6.3%) to around 59,000 beds. Average bed occupancy over this period was 54.7% (2012: 56.7%), and room occupancy about 69% (2012: 70%).

Vienna also continued to be one of the world’s top congress metropolises: in 2013 the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) once again ranked the Austrian capital as congress city no. 1 worldwide for the eighth time in succession, with 195 international conferences in the year 2012.