Britons are flooding to Vienna because of Sacha Baron Cohen’s hit comedy "Brüno." The Austrian capital has seen 120 per cent more bookings from Britain since the film opened.

By Thomas Hochwarter
Vienna tourism office director Norbert Kettner Kettner said: "I would like to say quite frankly: ‘Thank you, Brüno!’"

He said tourism chiefs in the Austrian capital were hoping the Brüno effect" would make up for a drop of 20 per cent in bookings for the first half of this year.

Kettner said the financial crisis and the fall in value of the pound against the Euro was probably behind the dwindling numbers.

Brüno, the latest film from British comedian Cohen, portrays a gay, xenophobic fashion reporter from Austria who moves to America to become famous after being sacked by his employer. Vienna itself however only appears for a few minutes – and scenes taking place in the city were shot in Paris.

The film has provoked mixed reactions in Austria as well as America. Earlier this week, an Innsbruck-based lawyer specializing in youth issues appealed to watchdogs to reverse their decision to allow Brüno to be seen by people aged 14.

Elisabeth Harasser said she wanted the movie to be x-rated, arguing: "The law for the protection of youngsters forbids the display of sexual acts that could endanger the moral and social development of children and teenagers."

And Emil Brix, future Austrian Ambassador in London, lambasted the film as "totally inappropriate."

Brix said he was worried about Austria’s reputation as its main character keeps linking Austria with the Nazi era.

The film itself has also failed to draw in the crowds. Latest figures show that more than three times as many Austrian cinema-goers went to see the new animated movie Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.

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Austrian Times