Vienna Press Release – December 2025 “Welcome to Vienna” – in sign language

December 1, 2025 - Many languages are spoken in Vienna, one of which is the various forms of sign language. As part of a pioneering project, three accessible videos have been produced in International Sign (IS), Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS), and German Sign Language (DGS).

More and more museums are not only implementing structural measures that exceed the legal minimum requirements for accessibility, but also offer regular guided tours and museum experiences for people with disabilities. The aim of the sign language videos is to make Vienna’s cultural offerings accessible to deaf and hearing-impaired people both nationally and internationally, thereby taking a step towards barrier-free tourism communication.

The project brings together culture and inclusion and, through AI-generated voiceover, innovation too. It shows how Vienna, as an international destination, breaks down barriers and makes accessibility a reality.

About the project

Sign language is not a single, universal language, but numerous – in part regional – sign languages that differ significantly in grammar, vocabulary and expression not only from spoken languages, but also from one another. For this project, the first step was to focus on German Sign Language, Austrian Sign Language and International Sign (IGS), as IGS is increasingly used in tourism settings and is becoming more familiar to deaf travellers. The videos appear on the Vienna Tourist Board’s digital channels and at the Tourist Information Center on Albertinaplatz. They provide information on accessible offerings, tours and services, as well as inspiring insights into Vienna’s museum landscape.

The project aims to raise awareness and establish accessible communication as a matter-of-course component of contemporary cultural interpretation.

Filming took place at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna (KHM) — one of the world’s leading museums. The videos were produced in close collaboration with the Austrian Association of Sign Language Interpreters and Translators. Content-wise, the video guides viewers through Vienna and describes accessible offerings across the city and its museums, services and digital tools (e.g. the ivie city guide app and the Vienna City Card). Particular emphasis was placed on authenticity and ease of understanding during production. Natural lighting and steady camera work were also used to ensure that the gestures were clearly recognizable.

The videos, which present Vienna as an attractive, inclusive and accessible destination, are complemented by social media formats with authentic perspectives – wheelchair tennis player Nico Langmann, for example, explores Vienna from his point of view. Pawel Masarczyk, a blind person, is also accompanied on his journey through Vienna.

Vienna as an accessible travel destination

Accessibility is a key component of sustainable tourism, promotes social inclusion and reaches new audiences. Around 100 million adults in the EU live with a disability, and the number is rising. In an aging society, demand for accessible offerings is therefore steadily increasing. People with disabilities also enjoy traveling; most have the necessary means, they usually travel with companions, and they spend more on average (often because they have to). By international standards, Vienna makes an outstanding contribution. Vienna’s pioneering role in accessibility for people with disabilities was recognized in 2025 with the Access City Award.

Accessibility as part of the city strategy

The “Inclusive Vienna 2030” strategy implements the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities locally, with the goal of including people with disabilities on an equal basis in all areas of life. Tourism plays a key role in this regard – the Vienna Tourist Board is supporting the implementation of this strategy with its “Accessibility” action program. Vienna’s infrastructure is also being continuously improved – the Vienna Tourist Board’s Tourist Information Centers at Albertinaplatz and at Vienna Airport are equipped with hearing loop systems, while tactile city maps are also available in the city center. Another milestone was reached when the Vienna Tourist Board website was awarded the Web Accessibility Certificate Austria (WACA) – a quality certification that only one in fifty company websites in Austria has been awarded.

Accessible Vienna in numbers:

100% of subway stations are accessible (excluding structural limitations)
95% of tram and bus stops are accessible
80% of traffic lights have audible signals for people who are blind or have low vision
Since 1991: accessible planning and construction codified in law
1st place, Access City Award 2025
2026: host city of the National Special Olympics