Unshackled from the clutches of COVID-19, the tourism juggernaut of southwest Germany's Baden-Württemberg readily flaunts its fresh triumphs. As indicated by initial stats disclosed by the State Statistical Office, the 2023 summer season saw an unprecedented 14.0 million arrivals and 35.2 million overnight stays. This superlative accomplishment, characterized by a total of 35.2 million sleepovers in the southwestern state, surpasses even the robust pre-pandemic figure set in 2019 by a margin of 1.8% for overnight stays and a margin of 0.2% for arrivals.
This remarkable revival, punctuated by a 6.4% surge in arrivals and a 4.4% uptick in overnight stays compared to the 2022 summer season, witnessed a noticeable growth in domestic tourism. Certainly demanding the spotlight, the dog days of July and August shone with a whopping 12.9 million overnight stays, reinforcing their status as the industry's strongest months. In stark contrast, May and September rank as the locations of the greatest increases during the 2023 season.
Roughly 76.5% of the guests during the summer season this year hail from the Old Fatherland, meaning Germany. In combination, the German and foreign guest roster amassed nearly 14 million overnight stays, with almost 3.3 million overnight stays contributed by international parties in the southwest state. Interestingly enough, a subdued overseas presence disproportionately occupied only 21% of the overnight stays in 2023, slipping slightly below the pre-pandemic rate of 22.3%.
An exception to the general trend, Switzerland emerges as the fancied holiday destination for tourists traversing international borders, attracting approximately 1.7 million overnight stays. While the Netherlands and France secure the second and third positions for beloved travel destinations among foreign tourists, Switzerland leads the pack by an impressive 5.8% increase compared to the 2022 summer season.
In a statement expressing jubilation, the State Secretary for Tourism, Patrick Rapp, acknowledges the industry's resurgence as incontrovertible evidence that Baden-Württemberg's tourism has rediscovered its strength in the face of multiple crises. In his assessment, the sector's ability to bounce back from adversity relentlessly allows the tourism community to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
With the news of seven out of nine regions demonstrating improvements from the previous year, six of which set new records, Baden-Württemberg celebrates its majestic restoration. However, urban areas such as Stuttgart and the north of the state continue to grapple with the lingering implications of the Coronavirus pandemic.
