Germany experiences a bumper quarter in terms of tourism
Germany's tourism sector is thriving, with accommodations experiencing a surge in bookings. In the first quarter of 2024, hotels, guesthouses, and other vacation rentals noted an impressive jump in the number of overnight stays. This surge can be attributed to the early Easter holidays and the record-breaking occupancy rates they brought. The Federal Statistical Office recorded a whopping 88.9 million overnight stays, 8.4% higher than the previous year. This figure shatters previous records from early 2019.
German accommodation providers have been witnessing a steady growth in both domestic and international guests. Domestic tourists accounted for 73.9 million overnight stays, a 8.5% increase from the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, foreign visitors amounted to 15.0 million overnight stays, up by 7.8% compared to the same period in 2023.
The month of March was particularly impressive, with a staggering 35.6 million overnight stays - a 12.3% uptick from March 2023. This figure represents the highest number of overnight stays recorded during a March, surpassing the previous high of 33.1 million back in 2018 by 2.5 million or 7.5%. The exceptionally high occupancy rates in March were likely due to the Easter holidays starting early, with all federal states except Schleswig-Holstein kicking off their Easter vacations in March 2024.
Domestic guests contributed to these impressive figures, with their numbers leaping by 13.2% to 30.1 million overnight stays in March. Foreign guests also contributed, accounting for 5.5 million overnight stays, an increase of 7.8% over March 2023.
The European Football Championship, scheduled for June 14 to July 14, is expected to give the German tourism industry a further boost. According to a survey in April, the booking situation for the championship's host cities is promising, with Norbert Kunz, Managing Director of the German Tourism Association (DTV), reporting "consistently good to very good" occupancy rates.
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Source: www.ntv.de
