Anticipated Winter Season in 2024/25: Increase in Visitor Numbers, Decrease in Night Stays - Upcoming Winter Season 2024/25: Increased Visitors, Decreased Overnight Visits
The winter tourism season of 2024/25 saw a shift, as per the statistical reports from Fellbach - an increase in visitors but a slight dip in the number of overnight stays. Accommodation providers in Baden-Württemberg recorded around 9.6 million tourists and 23.1 million overnight stays. This signifies a 2.0% rise in visitor count compared to the previous season, while the overnight stays decreased by 0.3%.
Tourism State Secretary Patrick Rapp (CDU) noted his satisfaction, stating, "For the second year straight, we've welcomed record numbers of winter holiday-goers and guests in Baden-Württemberg."
The mild winter and scarce snowfall influenced the tourism scene, with visitors acknowledging spa and wellness resorts, as well as traditional winter sports destinations like the Black Forest and Swabian Alb.
In light of the changing climate, the Ministry of Economics highlights the importance of preparing for mild, snow-poor winter months. Relying on stable numbers or growth in the future requires embracing year-round, snow-independent experiences and modern infrastructure.
Coping with Climate Change
The unpredictable weather brought on by climate change poses challenges for winter tourism. Reduced snowfall and shrinking snowmaking periods are major issues for ski resorts and winter sports destinations across Europe [4][5].
To counter these effects, regions like Baden-Württemberg are focusing on developing year-round, climate-resilient tourism strategies:
- Eco-Friendly and Wellness Tourism: Promoting eco-friendly accommodations and wellness activities can attract tourists during all seasons.
- Experiential Tourism: Shifting the emphasis to unique experiences, such as hiking, cycling, or cultural events, offers alternatives to snow-dependent activities.
- Sustainable Infrastructure: Investing in tourism infrastructure that supports long-term economic viability is essential.
- Community-led Adaptation and Resilience: Projects, like BeyondSnow in the Alpine region, demonstrate efforts to enhance climate resilience through innovation and community collaboration [1].
For a sustainable future, involve local communities, businesses, and governments in planning, adapt to changing conditions, utilize digital tools for management, and provide training for stakeholders. Embrace the change - adapt, innovate, and thrive.
- To adapt to the unpredictable weather caused by climate change and ensure the sustainability of winter tourism, community-led adaptation and resilience projects, such as BeyondSnow in the Alpine region, emphasize innovation and collaboration among local communities, businesses, and governments.
- As part of Baden-Württemberg's year-round, climate-resilient tourism strategy, vocational training opportunities will be provided for tourism stakeholders to help them adapt to changes in lifestyle, home-and-garden landscaping for eco-friendly accommodations, travel itineraries that incorporate unique experiences like hiking and cycling, and the development of sustainable infrastructure for long-term economic viability.
