Tourism in the north - Peak season is here - and there is still capacity available
In holiday destinations by the North and Baltic Seas, as well as at the Schlei, there are still capacities available at the beginning of the peak season for last-minute travelers. "From a touristic perspective, the travel year in Schleswig-Holstein starts off well but runs through the rest of the year unevenly," said Bettina Bunge, CEO of the Schleswig-Holstein Tourism Agency (TASH). Capacities are still available in all regions for the summer.
Andrea Simon, spokesperson for the Ostseefjord Schlei GmbH, reported: "Unlike in previous years, we are not fully booked during the summer holidays." In the inner Lübeck Bay with the towns of Scharbeutz, Sierksdorf, and Neustadt in Holstein, bookings in the internal accommodation brokerage are currently 10 to 15 percent below the summer of 2023, according to Doris Wilmer-Huperz of the Lübecker Bucht Tourism Agency. Several other vacation rental providers in the region confirm fewer bookings in the traditional summer vacation months than the previous year.
There are still accommodations available on the North Friesian Islands and in Sylt as well.
On Föhr, tourist operators expect an occupancy rate of around 80 to 85 percent for July and August. This means a lower occupancy rate than the previous year for most accommodation providers. Accommodations are still available in all price and accommodation categories.
The trend is also towards more last-minute bookings – even in the summer. "The travel behavior is changing, as the annual holidays are being booked more and more last-minute. In addition, guests are increasingly price-sensitive," said TASH Managing Director Bunge. Similar observations are made by the tourist operators at the Lübecker Bucht: In the past, there was more advanced booking in the summer. "The summer was booked with more lead time," said Wilmer-Huperz.
A strong price sensitivity is also noticeable among guests at the Schlei. In addition, the mixed weather conditions are likely to be a factor. Spontaneous bookings are increasing on Föhr. "We notice that guests are becoming more price-sensitive and often book shorter stays," said Anna Preißler, spokesperson for the Föhr Tourism GmbH.
Sylt is reportedly fully booked through the fall, but there are still accommodations available in all accommodation types and price segments, according to Moritz Luft, managing director of the Sylt Marketing Society. The current occupancy rate for the coming weeks is slightly below that of the previous year.
In St. Peter-Ording (SPO), occupancy in July and August has decreased slightly compared to the previous year in all categories. "If the summer continues to show its good side, we expect many last-minute bookings and a similar good occupancy rate as the previous year," said Claudia Nißen from the local tourist center.
Trend towards shorter stays and last-minute bookings
Currently, there is a trend towards shorter stays and last-minute bookings – and this trend is also noticeable in the summer. "The travel behavior is changing, as the annual holidays are being booked more and more last-minute. In addition, guests are increasingly price-sensitive," said TASH Managing Director Bunge. Similar observations are made by tourist operators at the Lübecker Bucht: In the past, there was more advanced booking in the summer. "The summer was booked with more lead time," said Wilmer-Huperz.
A strong price sensitivity is also noticeable among guests at the Schlei. In addition, the mixed weather conditions are likely to be a factor. Spontaneous bookings are increasing on Föhr. "We notice that guests are becoming more price-sensitive and often book shorter stays," said Anna Preißler, spokesperson for the Föhr Tourism GmbH.
Sylt is reportedly fully booked through the fall, but there are still accommodations available in all accommodation types and price segments, according to Moritz Luft, managing director of the Sylt Marketing Society. The current occupancy rate for the coming weeks is slightly below that of the previous year.
In St. Peter-Ording (SPO), occupancy in July and August has decreased slightly compared to the previous year in all categories. "If the summer continues to show its good side, we expect many last-minute bookings and a similar good occupancy rate as the previous year," said Claudia Nißen from the local tourist center.
In St. Peter-Ording, it is believed that the relatively mild weather, as well as the overall increased price level, are possible causes for lower booking numbers. Timpe, the tourism chief of Amrum, also notes that since Corona initially significantly disrupted domestic tourism, foreign tourist destinations have been frequented again.
Tourism acceptance - Places have become more sensitive
During the Corona pandemic, when many destinations abroad could not be reached, and many holidaymakers chose Schleswig-Holstein for their holidays, there was unrest in some tourist hotspots. In response to the slightly decreased tourism acceptance in some places at the North and East Seas since 2022, the state government has for the first time published a "Guideline Acceptance" for municipalities and tourism responsible.
"The theme of tourism acceptance was particularly sensitive during the Corona pandemic; the space was limited, the Lübeck Bay was highly frequented," said Wilmer-Huperz. But we have been back to normal for a while now - with a few weekend in the summer that attract additional day visitors with optimal beach weather.
The Tourism Agency Lübecker Bucht is therefore actively promoting the hinterland and trying to show attractive alternatives to the beach through "gentle visitor guidance." In the Schlei region, the campaign "Du.Hier.Wir." is being continued this summer. This campaign aims to promote mutual interaction between guests and locals in the region. On Föhr, locals and guests can make a "Föhr Promise" for better interaction.
In many places, there have been and are citizen dialogues and acceptance surveys - for example, in Scharbeutz, on Amrum, and on Sylt. St. Peter Ording is reportedly participating actively in the tourism acceptance study of the state. "We are concerned with improving the overall quality of life for everyone, both for locals and for guests. Only then can a tourism develop that provides a basis for our lives but does not overburden our island," said Moritz Luft from the SMG.
- Despite capacities available at the beginning of the peak season in holiday destinations near the North and Baltic Seas and the Schlei, Society as a whole in Schleswig-Holstein begins its touristic year well but experiences unevenness throughout the rest of the year.
- According to Bettina Bunge, CEO of the Schleswig-Holstein Tourism Agency (TASH), there are still bookings available in all regions for vacationers looking for last-minute travel options during the summer.
- In the Lübeck Bay, which includes Scharbeutz, Sierksdorf, and Neustadt in Holstein, bookings for internal accommodation brokerage are currently 10 to 15 percent lower than the summer of 2023.
- Doris Wilmer-Huperz of the Lübecker Bucht Tourism Agency reported that there are still accommodations available on the North Friesian Islands and in Sylt.
- On Föhr, tourist operators anticipate an occupancy rate of around 80 to 85 percent for July and August, which is lower than the previous year for most accommodation providers.
- Moritz Luft, managing director of the Sylt Marketing Society, stated that despite Sylt being fully booked during the fall, there are still accommodations available in all accommodation types and price segments.
- In St. Peter-Ording (SPO), occupancy in July and August has decreased slightly compared to the previous year in all categories, according to Claudia Nißen from the local tourist center.
- Timpe, the tourism chief of Amrum, noted that since the Coronavirus disrupted domestic tourism, foreign travel destinations have become more popular.
- To improve tourism acceptance in Schleswig-Holstein, the state government published a "Guideline Acceptance" for municipalities and tourism representatives in response to mild weather and increased prices leading to decreased booking numbers in some places.
