2 May 2020

The next steps back to normality: After curfew ended and stores are open, gastronomy, museums (from mid-May) and hotels (29 May) can be soon visited again

On occasion of the lifted measures concerning free movement or the opening of larger stores in Vienna, people are again on the streets to visit shopping malls and the brick & mortar stores of the big players of the retail business. The 2nd May is the first day after seven weeks of curfew and store closures. Many Viennese use the new old freedom; the daily news publication Kronen Zeitung speaks in an article of a customer rush observed on this Saturday at shopping hot spots.

Today, the official Covid-19 statistics show still a positive development of the disease despite smaller stores have opened already two weeks ago. The strategy of the Austrian government is to ease the restrictive measures every two weeks. Nobody can predict seriously if the currently positive situation will last. In two weeks in mid-May with the next wave back to normality, the Austrian gastronomy (restaurants, cafes) and museums will open again. The tourism industry still has to wait how the new freedom affects the pandemic in Austria. At the end of this month in four weeks, hotels - as long as the curve of new infections doesn't rise - will start to run their business. In realistic foresight of the uncertain situation, the region Zell am See for example created the special offer 'Sorgenfrei Buchen' (Book Carefree) with the option to cancel the reserved holidays or rebook without reason and free of charge 48 hours before the planned arrival. The offer is valid for bookings with arrival dates between 1st June and 31st August 2020.

Image: The hotels and mountain railways of the alpine region Zell am See-Kaprun will open on 29 May 2020. Photo: © Zell am See-Kaprun Tourismus / Photographer: Nikolaus Faistauer.