Travel sector in Germany approaches pre-COVID levels

Germany recorded around 40.2 million overnight stays in April 2023 – significantly more than the previous year, data from statistics agency Destatis showed on Tuesday.

The number represents a 12.4% jump in bookings compared to 35.7 million a year earlier, almost reaching the same level as before the coronavirus pandemic.

How the stats break down

There was a 28.5% increase in the number of guests coming from abroad – to 6.3 million – compared to the same month last year.

However, this was still well below the 2019 pre-coronavirus level.

It was Germany’s strong domestic tourism industry that boosted the numbers.

The number of German guest stays increased by 9.9% – to 33.9 million.

That number, which may also include business bookings, is actually above pre-pandemic levels – 2.6% higher than in April 2019.

Combined, the number of hospitalizations was just 0.2% lower than in 2019.

It was in 2022 that the biggest jump was recorded in overnight reservations, with only 8.5 million in 2021.

April 2020 – when only necessary business travel or travel for other urgent circumstances was allowed – saw the lowest bookings during the entire pandemic, at 4.3 million.

inflation proves a positive force

The numbers match earlier-year forecasts from the German Tourism Association, which said inflation could cause many Germans to opt for domestic travel over long-distance travel.

He noted that demand from abroad has been more limited, but is still rising – with city breaks proving particularly popular.

After the pandemic, the sector expressed concern about the shortage of qualified workers, forcing some hotel and gastronomy companies to close or reduce availability.

Survey figures include hotels, guesthouses, apartments, campsites and other tourism-related accommodation with at least ten beds or guest parking spaces.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse