Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria has been taking steps to reopen the country to international travel and tourism, with the Austrian National Tourist Office stating that the country is entering the winter season with a step-by-step opening plan, clear safety rules and, above all, a high level of responsibility by our hosts. The country has been gradually reopening its shops, restaurants, and hotels, with certain Covid measures in place, such as the 2-G rule (proof of full vaccination/recovery) for entering hotels, ski lifts, and restaurants. The country has also been reopening its borders, with the Austrian Consulate General in Krakow, Poland, recently holding a reopening ceremony.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| End of lockdown | 12 December 2021 |
| Reopening for touristic purposes | 12 December 2021 (Tirol, Vorarlberg, and Burgenland); 17 December 2021 (Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Lower Austria, and Upper Austria); 20 December 2021 (nationwide) |
| Reopening of restaurants and hotels in Vienna | 20 December 2021 |
| Reopening of cafe, restaurant, and bar terraces | Postponed due to rising COVID-19 cases |
| Reopening of shops | Allowed under certain conditions, including maintaining a minimum distance of one meter and wearing face masks |
| Reopening of hotels | Mid-May, subject to a positive development of the epidemic |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's reopening timeline
Prior to this, in March 2021, Austria had postponed the reopening of cafes, restaurants, and bar terraces due to rising COVID-19 cases. The government prepared for regions to adapt restrictions locally, with a night-time curfew in place. The hardest-hit provinces at the time were Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland. There was hope that restrictions would be loosened in some regions after Easter, at the start of April, if intensive care figures remained stable.
Earlier, in February 2021, Austria had loosened its third lockdown by allowing non-essential shops to reopen. However, this led to a steady increase in infections, with the number of new infections rising above 3,500, the highest level since the early days of the second national lockdown.
In terms of reopening businesses, Austria implemented specific regulations. Under Section 2 of the "COVID-19-Lockerungsverordnung" ordinance, customers were allowed to enter shops under certain conditions. These conditions included maintaining a minimum distance of one metre between customers and employees and wearing face masks. For shops in structurally connected business premises, like shopping centres, additional calculations were necessary to ensure proper social distancing.
Regarding the revival of the tourism industry, there were speculations in 2020 that hotels could open in mid-May, subject to positive developments in the epidemic. It was acknowledged that the reopening of hotels would signal a broader shift in travel policies. The federal government intended to incrementally reopen certain business branches depending on risk factors, with a focus on maintaining safety standards and preventing prolonged shutdowns.
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Covid measures and restrictions
As of May 2022, Austria has removed all Covid-related entry requirements, allowing travellers to enter the country as they did before the pandemic. This means that travellers are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or a Covid-19 recovery certificate, and all testing requirements have been lifted.
Previously, Austria had some of the strictest entry requirements for international visitors in Europe. After reopening for tourism in December 2021, travellers were required to show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, as well as undergo a Covid PCR test prior to travelling to the country. However, those who showed proof of vaccination or a recovery certificate were exempt from the pre-departure testing requirement.
In March 2021, Austria delayed the reopening of cafes, restaurants, and bar terraces due to rising Covid-19 cases. The government prepared for regions to adapt restrictions locally, with the number of new infections rising above 3,500, the highest level since early December 2020.
In December 2021, Austria ended its nationwide lockdown, and regionally adapted opening steps were implemented. Certain Covid measures remained in place, such as the "2-G rule", which required proof of full vaccination or recovery to enter hotels, ski lifts, and restaurants.
For businesses, there are several measures in place to ensure customer and employee safety. These include maintaining a minimum distance of one metre between customers and employees, wearing face masks, and implementing a one-way system in areas where the minimum distance cannot be maintained. Businesses should also encourage contactless payments and provide hand sanitiser stations for staff and customers.
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Reopening of shops
On 12 December 2021, Austria ended its 20-day lockdown, and the country began to carefully reopen. The nationwide lockdown for vaccinated and recovered people ended on that date, and regional adaptations were implemented. From 12 December, travel to Austria for touristic purposes was possible again in Tirol, Vorarlberg, and Burgenland. Other regions followed on 17 December, and it was assumed that touristic travel would be possible throughout Austria from 20 December.
The reopening of shops and businesses in Austria has been allowed under certain conditions. Under Section 2 of the "COVID-19-Lockerungsverordnung" ordinance, customers are permitted to enter shops, but specific measures must be followed. Shop owners must ensure that there is only one customer per 10 m2 in the customer area at any time. If the customer area is smaller than 10 m2, only one customer is allowed to enter at a time. For shops within structurally connected business premises, such as shopping centres or market halls, the customer areas of all shops and the connecting building must be considered together. Face masks are mandatory for both staff and customers when in contact with each other.
Special rules apply to outdoor markets. A minimum distance of one metre must be maintained between customers who do not share the same household. Both customers and employees must wear face masks when they come into contact with each other. The minimum distance rule does not apply between people with disabilities and their caregivers or if suitable protective devices are available to separate individuals. Shop owners should calculate the maximum number of customers allowed in their store and inform potential customers through a notice displayed at the entrance.
Additionally, it is essential to nominate a responsible employee to ensure that the maximum number of customers is not exceeded and that only customers with masks enter the shop. Employees must be informed of their duties, including wearing masks and maintaining a minimum distance of one metre from customers. In areas where customers congregate, such as the checkout area, lines can be drawn to help customers maintain the required distance. If paths for customers are less than 2.20 metres wide, a one-way system should be organised.
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Reopening of hotels
As of December 2021, Austria has been reopening its tourism industry, with travel for touristic purposes possible in all federal states from 20 December. Vienna reopened its restaurants and hotels on 20 December 2021.
However, the reopening of hotels and the tourism industry in general is a gradual process, with certain conditions in place. Hotels are closed for tourists travelling for fun, leisure, or recreation. Hotels can, however, remain open for certain groups that must travel or need accommodation due to their status, such as workers or guests who cannot leave the country. This means that a lot of hotels will be fully closed until the restrictions are lifted. In the first phase of reopening, internal/domestic tourism will be prioritised.
The federal government's position is to reopen certain business branches incrementally, depending on the risk factors involved. For example, businesses where keeping a distance is hard to ensure will take longer to reopen than those where safety standards can be easily applied. If infection numbers go down or remain stable, more liberalisation will be seen.
To enter hotels, restaurants, and ski lifts, customers must comply with the so-called "2-G rule", which requires proof of full vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. In addition, customers and staff must wear masks, and a minimum distance of one metre must be maintained between customers who do not live in the same household.
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Reopening of restaurants and bars
The Austrian government has taken a cautious approach to reopening restaurants and bars, with the goal of balancing the need to revive the tourism industry while prioritising public health and safety. The country's reopening strategy has been influenced by various factors, including infection rates, intensive care bed usage, and the proximity of certain regions to high-risk areas.
In March 2021, Austria postponed the reopening of cafes, restaurants, and bar terraces due to rising COVID-19 cases. The government recognised the need for regional adaptations to restrictions, as some provinces, such as Vienna and Lower Austria, were experiencing higher infection rates and intensive care bed usage. This delay was implemented to curb the spread of the virus and ensure the healthcare system could manage the influx of patients.
However, by December 2021, Austria was preparing to reopen its restaurants and hotels, starting with Vienna on the 20th. This reopening plan was part of a step-by-step process, with certain COVID measures still in place, such as the "2-G rule," which required proof of full vaccination or recovery to enter hospitality venues. This gradual approach aimed to balance the resumption of tourism with the need to protect public health.
To ensure a safe reopening, businesses in the hospitality sector must adhere to specific guidelines. These include maintaining a minimum distance of one metre between customers from different households and enforcing the wearing of face masks for both staff and customers when in contact. Additionally, there should be no more than one customer per 10 m2 in the customer area at any given time. These measures are designed to minimise the risk of infection and provide a safe environment for both guests and employees.
The Austrian government has emphasised the importance of regional considerations in the reopening process, allowing provinces to adapt restrictions based on their unique circumstances. This flexibility enables a more tailored approach to managing the pandemic while also taking into account the impact on the tourism industry, which is a vital sector for the country's economy.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria reopened on 12 December 2021, with gradual openings across different regions.
Businesses must ensure that there is only one customer per 10 m2 in the customer area at any time. Face masks and a minimum distance of one metre between customers must also be maintained.
Restaurants and bars in Vienna reopened on 20 December. However, in March 2021, Austria delayed the reopening of cafes, restaurants and bars due to rising coronavirus cases.
