Tourism sector experiences early-year dip - Struggling Start for Tourism Industry During Early Months
Schleswig-Holstein's Tourism Industry Begins 2025 Season with a Decrease in Arrivals and Overnight Stays
The tourism sector in Schleswig-Holstein commenced the 2025 season on a cautious note, recording a decline in tourist arrivals and overnight stays, following a record-breaking year in 2024. According to the statistical data from the Schleswig-Holstein Tourist Board, the number of guests in hotels, pensions, and other accommodations dropped by 7.3% to approximaetly 1.286 million in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The booked overnight stays also decreased by 11.1%, totaling around 4.4 million.
Bettina Bunge, Managing Director of the Tourism Agency, attributed the decline to a hesitation among tourists to book short vacations and additional holidays. The trend of last-minute booking for weekend trips or bridge days has made the situation more unpredictable for accommodation providers, campsite operators, and leisure service providers.
One of the primary reasons for the significant 19.8% decrease in overnight stays in March was the relatively late Easter holiday, which occurred at the beginning of April. Moreover, there were no school holidays in any federal state in March.
Schleswig-Holstein's Tourism Minister, Claus Ruhe Madsen (CDU), emphasized that the tourism sector contributes significantly to the state's economic performance. He stated, "It's not about higher overnight stays. What's crucial is quality and a reasonable price-performance ratio."
The year 2024 witnessed a record result for Schleswig-Holstein, with around 9.4 million guest arrivals and over 38 million overnight stays, including camping. The North took fifth place among the federal states, following Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Lower Saxony.
Entrance fees for camping accommodations have risen significantly in recent years, likely curtailing the demand for budget-conscious travelers. Although Schleswig-Holstein offers numerous attractive activities and cultural sites, the high prices may diminish the region's competitiveness as a travel destination during the 2025 season.
Note: The steep increase in camping accommodation costs may have contributed to the decline in tourist arrivals and overnight stays at the start of the 2025 season, as motorhome pitches were approximately 27.7% more expensive than in 2020, and campsite fees increased by around 24.6%. These price increases surpassed general accommodation cost rises and inflation, potentially deterring cost-conscious tourists who contributed to the record numbers in 2024. However, the region's appeal is not solely dependent on budget-friendly accommodations, and the season may still experience a positive growth as the year progresses.
- The decline in tourist arrivals and overnight stays in Schleswig-Holstein's tourism sector might be due to an increased cost of living as employment policies, such as the rise in camping accommodation costs, have become more expensive, potentially deterring budget-conscious travelers who were a significant contributor to the record numbers in 2024.
- As the tourism industry in Schleswig-Holstein prioritizes quality and a reasonable price-performance ratio, it's crucial for employment policies to consider the impact of increased fees on areas like camping accommodations, as the lifestyle preference of travelers seeking cost-effective options could contribute to the tourism sector's competitiveness as a destination during the 2025 season.
