City officials in Vienna have announced a strategy to woo gay and lesbian travelers to the Austrian capital’s streets.

Viennese authorities will promote the country’s music, culture and history to attract the presence and money of gay and lesbian tourists.

According to Reuters, the plan to court LGBT tourists came after a study among gay and lesbian travelers from outside Vienna revealed their average household income was €385 higher than that of other tourists to Vienna.

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day alternative to roses and chocolates, why not head to Vienna for a bit of hard core action in the pool at VIVA5.

We caught up with VIVA5 organizer Peter Novotny to preview what swimmers can look forward to at Vienna’s 2013 Valentine Swimming Meet on 15 February.

How many years has the event been held?

The first Vienna Valentine was held in 2005 and takes place only every second year. VIVA5 is the fifth edition.

Gay Star News is getting ready for the fifth annual Pink Lake and we are hoping the promise of non-stop parties, sunshine and crystal clear waters will make you want to join us.

We’ll be heading into the mountains of southern Austria from 23 to 26 August for an extended weekend by the 17km long Lake Woerthersee, next to the borders of Italy and Slovenia.

Weather forecasters promise sun-fueled 30C temperatures on land and, even more surprisingly, 26C warmth in the water.

Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers and their friends will be painting an Austrian lake pink this summer in a unique four-day summer holiday event.

Pink Lake, which is supported by Gay Star News this year, is a long weekend of costume balls and boat parties on the stunning Lake Woerthersee, nestled between Slovakia and Italy.

We asked Jeff Wahl, one of the organizers, to tell us all about it.

What is Pink Lake?

My parents are in the UK visiting from Australia so I offered to take them to Vienna for the Easter weekend.

They're quite easy travelers, relaxed, mobile, happy to just go with the flow. Me? Not so much. Lord knows how they manage to cope with day-to-day life without me there to bossily organize and supervise them.

George Michael has tweeted that he is back in the studio having recovered from a severe bout of pneumonia that began last November.

British gay singer Michael was forced to cancel the final 14 dates of his Symphonica tour at the end of last year after being diagnosed with the condition.

He was rushed to hospital in Vienna and ended up being treated there for a month. Now he has fully recovered and the concerts have been rescheduled for September and October this year.

George Michael has revealed it was ‘touch and go’ as to whether he would survive his battle with pneumonia.

The openly gay 48-year-old singer is back in the UK after overcoming the life-threatening illness and held a press conference outside his north London home today (23 December) admitting he came close to death while at the AKH hospital in Vienna, Austria, and revealing doctors spent ‘three weeks keeping him alive’.

George Michael has been released from hospital and is flying back to England today (22 December).

The 48-year-old pop star has been receiving treatment for pneumonia at the AKH clinic in Vienna, Austria, for weeks but after making a recovery from the illness he was discharged from the medical centre at 8am and was taken straight to the airport so he can be at home for Christmas.

A hospital staff member told Austrian newspaper Osterreich: ‘He’s feeling a lot better. He’s doing so well, he’s able to fly again.’