Entire Scottish village invited to visit Vienna for free to prove it is no Dull city
-WienTourismus-Christian-Stemper.jpeg?trim=2,0,3,0&crop=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
A village will holiday together as it is invited to give Vienna the ultimate Dull test.
The entire village of Dull in Perthshire has been invited to visit Vienna for two nights for free - in the hope it can convince others that there is no Dull thing about the city.
The village, which has a population of around 100, was approached by the ViennaTourist Board as it sought a cunning way to highlight the city's winter charms.
Now, around 35 people in the village have accepted the invite of a two-night stay at the prestigious Hotel Imperial and a buzzy itinerary of Viennese culture, food and sightseeing.
READ MORE: I’ve been walking around Scotland for more than a year - I think I have found my favourite spot
At first, the offer seemed too good to be true to some in Dull, with a little concern in the village that the offer might be some sort of elaborate scam.
But after checks were made with the tourist board both in London and Vienna, around a third of the village signed up to embark on a city break together.
Richard Caplan, a retired doctor who has lived in Dull for 17 years, said the first the village heard of the potential trip was through the community council, with word then spreading through the Dull What’s App group.
Mr Caplan said: “It has all happened very quickly and we were sent a well- produced proposal about the trip. Apparently, around 50 per cent of tourists have disappeared since Covid and they were looking for a way of increasing the city’s profile.
“Many of us actually thought it was a scam, but it is not as if they are asking us for anything in return. A few calls were made.
“It is just extraordinary and a really nice story. There are very few nice stories around and there really is no edge to it.”
Mr Caplan, who visited Vienna around 20 years ago, said he was looking forward to taking in some of the city’s collection of Gustav Klimt artworks with his wife and daughter.
The Vienna Tourist Board arrived in Dull - which is paired with Boring in Oregon - over the weekend to meet the travellers and finalise arrangements, with the invites presented in wax-sealed envelopes. Gifts were left with those who can't make the trip.
The view from Vienna is that while many embrace Dry January and new gym routines in the New Year, the city is going into celebration mode. Hundreds of balls are held across the city, where coffeehouse culture, sausage stands and Heuriger wine taverns help keep the cold at bay. The world’s largest ice rink, it is hoped, will provide a memorable afternoon.
Norbert Kettner, CEO of Vienna Tourist Board, said: “We’re proud of our museums, our concerts and our winter magic - but we also enjoy a good sense of humour.
“January is often considered the dullest month of the calendar, which is exactly why we wanted to bring Dull to Vienna. It’s the perfect opportunity to show how vibrant this season can truly be. We hope many residents will join us, and we’re eager to hear their expert judgement.”
Visitors from Dull are expected to visit the Vienna Ball of Sciences, with outfits and dance lessons provided, with tours of the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Naturhistorisches Museum also on offer. The Vienna State Opera, the Spanish Riding School and Ice skating at the Vienna Ice Dream are included in the itinerary.
Mr Caplan said he was looking forward to the trip away with his fellow villagers.
He added: “I know going on holiday with friends can sometimes cause problems, but it is only for two days. I don’t think there is enough time for it to backfire.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.