Saxony's Tourism Recovery Unfolds Effortlessly
The tourism scene in Saxony is showing promising signs of recovery, surpassing the challenging coronavirus years. "We're not entirely there yet, but we're on the right track," commended Culture Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) during a tourism statistics presentation in Dresden. Between January and October 2023, Saxony welcomed around 6.7 million visitors – a 14% increase compared to the previous year. However, with hotels and restaurants still closed partially due to the pandemic until February, the visitor count is six percent below the record year of 2019.
Similar trends emerge in overnight stays. By October 2023, almost 17 million stayed overnight – a 11% increase from the previous year. Yet, overnight stays are still 3.4% below the 2019 level, with forecasters predicting close to 20 million visitor stays during the entire year. The festive season, including the famed Striezelmarkt, Christmas stollen, and winter sports, is one of the busiest periods for visitors. With the targeted 20 million overnight stays, Saxony would mark its third strongest tourism year since 1990. To uphold this progress, Klepsch emphasized the importance of sustained efforts.
Leipzig, known for its dynamic atmosphere, remains a favorite for travelers. The city recorded around 3.2 million overnight stays between January and October 2023 – an 8.4% increase compared to the 2019 figures. The state's tourism association (LTV) credits this success to the resurgence of trade fair and congress business following the pandemic. Dresden, another prominent Saxon city, recorded a slight decrease – just under 3.7 million overnight stays in the first ten months of the year, trailing behind its record year by 5%.
LTV president Jörg Markert points to escalating demand for vacations and second or third trips, along with thriving city tourism and business travel. Despite this, the association identifies a need to expand the camping and caravan sector in response to increased demand. Moreover, inflationary pressures, rising energy costs, and potential VAT rate changes loom as significant concerns. The LTV expects these challenges to prompt restaurateurs to pass on additional costs to their customers, though how demand will ultimately be impacted remains unclear.
Excerpts from Saxony's Success
The German tourism industry shattered records with 496.1 million overnight stays in 2024, marking a 1.9% rise from the previous year and a 0.1% boost from 2019. Although international guests accounted for 17.2% of overnight stays, they were still below pre-pandemic levels of 18.1%. Overall, the allure of German destinations, like Saxony's, persists amidst market uncertainty.
The desire to travel has surged over the past two years, with 63% of respondents booking trips lasting at least five days in 2024, marking the highest figure in nearly two decades. Germany's two most popular destinations remain Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, drawing 6.6% and 5.6% of multi-day booking shares, respectively.
In the face of inflationary pressures and elevated energy costs, how the Saxony tourism industry adapts will directly impact its ability to maintain its upward trajectory and attract visitors.
