New €100 Million EIB and ÖHT Financing Scheme Supports Sustainable Investment in Austria’s Tourism Sector

New €100 Million EIB and ÖHT Financing Scheme Supports Sustainable Investment in Austria’s Tourism Sector

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank and the Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank have launched a joint financing initiative worth up to €100 million to support small and medium-sized tourism businesses across Austria. The EIB will provide €50 million, matched by ÖHT, with the funds distributed under the Federal Commercial Tourism Promotion Scheme administered for the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism. The financing will offer favourable lending conditions and interest subsidies, helping tourism businesses invest in modernization and sustainability despite higher costs and tighter credit conditions. Around 30 percent of the funding will support climate-related investments such as energy efficiency improvements. Tourism remains a major contributor to Austria’s economy and employment, and the agreement builds on more than 30 years of cooperation between the EIB and ÖHT.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 26-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — European Investment Bank has entered into a new financing partnership with the Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank (ÖHT/OeHT) that will make up to €100 million in funding available to Austria’s tourism industry, particularly benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises such as hotels and other accommodation providers.

Under the agreement, the EIB will provide €50 million in financing, which will be matched by ÖHT and distributed to tourism businesses through the Federal Commercial Tourism Promotion Scheme administered by ÖHT on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism (BMWET). The initiative is designed to improve access to investment capital and support the modernization and long-term sustainability of Austria’s tourism sector.

The financing program will offer favourable lending conditions, including an interest rate subsidy, helping tourism operators manage rising operating costs and more restrictive lending conditions. The initiative is particularly aimed at supporting small and family-run businesses that form the backbone of Austria’s hospitality sector.

Approximately 30 percent of the total financing will be allocated to climate-related investments, including projects that improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These measures are intended to help tourism businesses reduce costs and improve sustainability while strengthening the sector’s long-term resilience.

Tourism represents a major component of the Austrian economy, contributing roughly 14 percent of national GDP when both direct and indirect effects are considered. The sector also plays an important role in employment, supporting approximately 678,000 jobs across the country. Following a record year in 2025, with more than 157 million overnight stays, tourism demand has remained strong, with continued growth during the winter season.

EIB Vice-President Karl Nehammer stated that the financing initiative will improve access to capital for small and medium-sized tourism businesses, enabling them to invest in modernization, quality improvements and environmentally responsible operations. He emphasized that such investments help maintain economic activity and regional value creation throughout Austria.

ÖHT Managing Director Matthias Matzer noted that the financing program will enable hundreds of tourism businesses to proceed with planned investments that might otherwise have been delayed. He highlighted sustainability as a central priority for the future development of the tourism sector.

State Secretary for Tourism Elisabeth Zehetner emphasized that subsidized financing through ÖHT helps translate national tourism policy goals into practical investments by businesses. She also highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between the EIB, ÖHT and the Ministry of Economic Affairs in supporting tourism as a key driver of regional development and national economic strength.

The new agreement continues a partnership between the European Investment Bank and ÖHT that spans more than three decades and has supported the ongoing development and competitiveness of Austria’s tourism industry.

Background information  

EIB Group

The European Investment Bank (ElB) Group is the long-term financing institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100 billion of new financing for over 870 high-impact projects in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, strong global partnerships and the savings and investment union. High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here.

The Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank GmbH (OeHT) has been the national point of contact for funding and financing in the tourism and leisure industry since 1947. It is owned by Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG and Raiffeisen ÖHT Beteiligungs GmbH. Since 1996, OeHT has administered the federal commercial tourism funding program on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Energy and Tourism. Its mission is to help shape Austria’s tourism sector in an innovative, sustainable, and competitive way. OeHT offers attractive financing and funding solutions as instruments for implementing investment projects, providing start-up support for new businesses, and stabilizing companies. Key thematic priorities include the green transformation of tourism, ensuring successful business successions, and enhancing the attractiveness of tourism as an employer.

Media Contact:

Clara Wanjek-Bauer
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SOURCE: European Investment Bank