The Vienna Tourist Board has invited the residents of a tiny Scottish village for a weekend in the Austrian capital in a bid to prove the city is not dull in January. Representatives personally asked the entire Perthshire village of Dull, population around 100, to visit for free in early next year.
The tongue-in-cheek 'cultural initiative' aims to settle whether Vienna falls flat after Christmas festivities wrap up. The board said, 'who better to judge whether Vienna is 'dull' than the citizens of Dull themselves?' The village, known for sheep-scattered hills and historic monasteries east of Loch Tay, is already paired with Boring, Oregon in the US.
Every household in Dull received a hand-delivered wax-sealed invitation and Viennese goodie bags from the tourism board on 29 November. The Scottish residents will spend a weekend at the renowned Hotel Imperial at the start of the city's ball season. 'Tailor-made' itineraries include dance lessons, styling sessions for the Vienna Ball of Sciences, museum and palace tours, opera evenings, and ice skating.
Norbert Kettner, CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board, said: '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.' He added that the board is 'eager to hear their expert judgment' that Vienna is not dull even in January.
