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Dresden. Saxony's tourism industry can look back on a positive year in 2024. According to data from the State Statistical Office, seven million guests were counted up to October, booking 17 million overnight stays. This is an increase of 2.5 percent in arrivals compared to the previous year. The statistics relate to hotels and guesthouses with more than ten beds. The industry is expecting gross turnover of around 9.49 billion euros this year - that would be 200 million euros more than last year.
This would make 2024 the third strongest year for tourism in Saxony, said Stephan Meyer (CDU), President of the State Tourism Association and District Administrator of Görlitz. Thanks to a strong November and December, the number of overnight stays could even rise to around 20 million by the end of the year. The number of advance bookings in the Christmas hotspots Erzgebirge and Dresden is optimistic, said association director Andrea Kis.
City tourism picks up again
The major cities of Dresden and Leipzig are once again attracting more visitors. In Leipzig, the number of arrivals and overnight stays this year exceeded the 2019 level. The European Football Championship in spring and many well-attended concerts in particular attracted tourists to the trade fair city. By October, 3.2 million overnight stays had been registered. Next year could even reach four million overnight stays, said Volker Brenner from Leipziger Tourismus und Marketing GmbH. "With the International German Gymnastics Festival 2025, many other major events as well as international congresses and conferences, we are confident that we will break the sound barrier."
In Dresden, the exhibition "Where it all began" at the State Art Collections to mark the 250th birthday of Caspar David Friedrich attracted a record number of visitors - around 220,000 guests are predicted. The major concerts, for example by Rammstein and ACDC, also attracted thousands of visitors to the state capital.
The Caspar David Friedrich anniversary also attracted a great deal of attention to the regions. Both Saxon Switzerland and the Zittau Mountains benefited from additional visitors.
The figures for Chemnitz are still below those of the previous year - arrivals are down 2.7 percent. Next year, the title of Capital of Culture 2025 should attract tourists. The tourism industry is expecting up to two million day and overnight visitors.
Day tourism weakens
Day tourism, which is so important for Saxony's tourism industry, is weakening. The restraint in excursions and business trips was noticeable from the beginning of the year through to the summer. Only in August was there a slight increase in numbers. One reason for this is the weather: Saxony experienced a cool and wet early summer, as well as the flood situation. But inflation and price trends are also having a negative impact on consumer behavior, said Andrea Kis. "Overall, this is not a good development."
Association President Meyer called for VAT to be reduced again in the catering sector. The reduced tax rate of seven percent due to the pandemic expired at the beginning of the year, and since then 19 percent has been due again. The federal government must act here, said Meyer.
More guests from Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands
The increasing number of tourists from abroad is the growth driver for the industry, said Veronika Hiebl, Managing Director of Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft. Up to October, almost 817,000 arrivals and around 1.9 million overnight stays by foreign guests were recorded - compared to the same period last year, this is an increase of nine percent in overnight stays. The figure for arrivals is 8.5 percent.
Saxony was particularly successful in attracting tourists from Poland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland. The Dutch visited Leipzig in particular - due to the European Championship matches played by the national team in the Leipzig stadium. This also applies to guests from Croatia.
"The development of guests from the USA was just as successful, with 15.2 percent more guests and 16.1 percent more overnight stays," said Hiebl. Overnight stays by German tourists in Saxony, on the other hand, were slightly down on the previous year (minus 0.4 percent). The number of guests from the United Kingdom also fell slightly.
Financial support needed
The industry continues to face numerous challenges, said Stephan Meyer. "A shortage of skilled workers, rising costs and structural changes require decisive action and support from the state government." The budget for the tourism industry should be maintained at the current level despite the tight budget situation. Saxony's tourism sector currently receives 17 million euros per year. In addition, seven million euros are available for the promotion of projects for all-day tourism.
Meyer said that the Free State should also think about promoting business takeovers in rural areas and investing in infrastructure. In the next ten years, a quarter of companies will have to make succession arrangements and eleven percent will want to close down.
Saxony's Tourism Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) also believes that further state support for the industry is necessary. Despite all the difficulties, the budget policy of the coming years must also enable the further development of tourism, said Klepsch. The main topics are the further development of year-round and hiking tourism and the strengthening of health resorts and resorts.
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