Reserving condition - Approaching summer vacations: majority of vacation spots content
With rising flight costs and expectations of hot temperatures in Southern European coastal areas, families are opting to spend their school holidays in domestic regions. Here in Niedersachsen, popular holiday areas such as the Harz, Lüneburg Heath, and North Sea coast are looking forward to a busy summer. Most holiday destinations are already fully booked, as reported by a German Press Agency survey among tourism associations. Accommodation is still available for last-minute bookings in most places. Summer holidays in Lower Saxony and Bremen officially begin on June 24th, while North Rhine-Westphalia's holidays start two weeks later.
Success for Lüneburg Heath
"We're thrilled with our bookings, which are currently at 90%. This is something we only experienced during the Heideblume in August," says Ulrich von dem Bruch, managing director of Lüneburg Heath GmbH. The two weeks leading up to the start of the holidays were quiet after a busy May filled with public holidays. "We were even more booked in May compared to last August," highlights the tourism expert.
Just 170 of the 1500 companies reported having free rooms for the school holidays. "What we notice is that campers are returning to the roads, some of whom we lost last year due to the persistent rain in July," says von dem Bruch. There were also more early bookings this year. It seems families are trying to avoid the often hot regions in Southern Europe in the summer. Additionally, many regions in the country have become more expensive, while prices for a holiday home in the Heide remain stable at 800 to 1000 euros per week.
Caution in the Harz
The hosts in the Harz are being cautiously optimistic about the summer holidays due to the short-term booking behavior of guests. "We can see that the region is popular, as we still have free capacities in all categories, especially in smaller towns," says a spokeswoman for the Harz Tourism Association. Larger towns like Bad Harzburg and Wernigerode already have more bookings. Camping and caravan sites are also in demand.
New attractions in the Middle Mountains
Some exciting new attractions are expected to draw visitors to the middle mountains region. For example, the almost-completed Harz Tower in Torfhaus or the expansion of the Miniature Park Wernigerode. There are also plans for event series like the Harzer Klostersommer, featuring festivals and markets in several monasteries. A new attraction is the 4D Animation Cinema in Bad Harzburg, designed to appeal to visitors on rainy days. "We hope for a good season with not too hot, summery weather," says a spokeswoman.
Concerns in the Middle Mountains region
In addition to concerns about short-term bookings, the region is also worried about shorter stays due to increased expenses and guests' reluctance to spend. The labor shortage and rising operating costs are major issues for the tourism association.
Optimistic outlook for the North Sea coast
Labor shortages are still causing problems for hosts and tourism operators on the North Sea coast, but overall, there's a positive outlook for the summer months. A good first quarter with many guests and overnight stays because of early Easter has set the stage for a successful summer. "The booking situation for the islands, the hinterland, and the coast is good," said a spokeswoman for the North Sea Tourism Agency in Wilhelmshaven. The occupancy rate of accommodations is around 75-90%, sometimes even higher. Demand matches last year's level, and many regular guests are expected to visit.
Tourists express satisfaction with the booking situation. There's accommodation available everywhere for last-minute bookings - from vacation homes to pensions, hotel rooms, and remaining spaces on camping sites. The spokeswoman recommends visitors make reservations before traveling.
A farm holiday boost in Lower Saxony
Farm holidays in Lower Saxony are also expecting many guests for the summer holidays, particularly from the Ruhr area and Berlin. "Families like to take a vacation in their own federal state, and the short journey from North Rhine-Westphalia or Brandenburg is a plus for families with young children," said Vivien Ortmann, managing director of Landtouristik Niedersachsen. Despite having a later start to summer holidays, August is already fully booked on many farms. There are still gaps in the first weeks of the Lower Saxony vacation.
Read also:
- Families looking to avoid the heat and rising costs in Southern European coastal areas are choosing to spend their summer vacations on the North Sea coast of Germany.
- According to a survey by the German Press Agency, popular holiday destinations such as Lüneburg Heath and the Harz are already fully booked, with accommodation still available for last-minute bookings.
- Ulrich von dem Bruch, managing director of Lüneburg Heath GmbH, is thrilled with the high bookings, which are currently at 90%, a level usually seen during the Heideblume festival in August.
- Despite fewer bookings in May compared to last August, camping and caravan sites in Lüneburg Heath are in high demand, as many families opt for domestic holiday destinations.
- The Harz Tourism Association reports that while larger towns like Bad Harzburg and Wernigerode have more bookings, smaller towns still have free capacities for the summer holidays.
- Exciting new attractions such as the Harz Tower and the expansion of the Miniature Park Wernigerode are expected to draw visitors to the middle mountains region this summer.
- The labor shortage and rising operating costs are major concerns for the tourism association in the Middle Mountains region, but the overall outlook is positive due to a good first quarter and the expectation of many regular guests.
- The North Sea coast is also enjoying a positive outlook for the summer months, with high occupancy rates in accommodations and a good number of returning guests expected.
- Farm holidays in Lower Saxony are also expecting many guests, particularly from North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin, as families look for vacation options in their own federal state.
- Despite August being fully booked on many farms, there are still gaps in the first weeks of the Lower Saxony vacation, offering an opportunity for last-minute bookers.
- As summer vacation approaches, Wilhelmshaven and other coastal towns are gearing up for tourists, with accommodations available for last-minute bookings and events planned to attract visitors, such as the Harzer Klostersommer festival.
