Vienna lights up streets for shoppers

MARKETS: SUPPORT FOR STRUGGLING RETAILERS

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Vienna will splash the cash on lighting up its famed Christmas markets to bring festive cheer to struggling retailers.

Chandeliers, glittering stars and sparkling red globes are among the designs illuminating 31 Viennese streets since last week, with the capital boosting spending on its end-of-year light displays as Austria's economy flounders.

"It's just beautiful. It makes the city a bit more beautiful," said student Kateryna Baranovska.

With local businesses increasingly unable to fork out the sums needed to keep the Christmas lights on, Vienna and its economic chamber will cover 75% instead of 50% of this year's costs, or some €700,000 (about R13.3 million) for the lighting alone.