Dürnstein debates how much tourism it can handle

Dürnstein, one of the Wachau’s best-known destinations, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, but peak periods can leave the small town crowded, ORF reported.

The town’s blue-and-white bell tower and castle ruins draw cruise passengers, coach tourists, cyclists and independent travellers. Visitors use their time in Dürnstein to walk through the town, shop or take a ride on the tourist train.

Gottfried Ettenauer, who operates the tourist train, said visitor numbers had been more concentrated before the coronavirus pandemic. They are now generally spread across the day, apart from short peaks in the morning when several groups arrive at once.

“If 120 to 150 e-bikes arrive at once, there is naturally chaos in the town,” Ettenauer said. When ships are moored and coaches arrive at the same time, he said, the narrow town centre can become blocked.

Vincent Gingembre, who has run a boutique in Dürnstein since 1981, also said there were sometimes too many visitors. His customers include people staying at nearby hotels and selected cruise passengers. “Sometimes I simply put everything away and close the door because it is too much,” he said.

Some visitors noticed the crowds as well. Jinling Elliott, a tourist from the United States, said there were many tourists and thanked local people for their patience. Johann Gruber, a day visitor from Petzenkirchen in the Melk district, compared the atmosphere to Croatia during the peak summer season.

Others had a different impression. One visitor from Germany said the crowds had been spread out and that the town was not so full that people had to push past one another.

Tourism remains an important economic factor for Dürnstein. During ORF’s visit, temporary crowds repeatedly dispersed quickly.

ORF Lower Austria will discuss the issue in its “Ein Ort am Wort” programme in Dürnstein on Thursday. The one-hour discussion, titled “How much is too much? Debate over tourist flows”, will begin at 7.30 p.m.