Boom in visitors: Schwerin benefits from UNESCO World Heritage title!

Boom in visitors: Schwerin benefits from UNESCO World Heritage title!

In 2024, the state capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schwerin, experienced a pleasing increase in the number of visitors. The reason? The awarding of the title “UNESCO World Heritage Site” to the impressive residential ensemble, which is now considered one of Germany’s cultural jewels. According to the Borkener Zeitung, those responsible for city marketing report a fantastic increase of 26 percent in city tours in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year. 18,500 interested people set out to discover the beauties of Schwerin.

Schwerin Castle, the flagship of this historic site, has also benefited from the realignment. In the first half of 2024 alone, the castle recorded a 12 percent increase in visitors, which translated into around 100,000 guests. The increase in demand around the castle was particularly noticeable. This pleasing development continued in the second half of 2024. As the city's marketing director Catharina Groth says, it is important to design the world heritage as an overall experience that can be experienced, which is also supported by shipping and retail.

A rising tourist destination

Tourism numbers in Schwerin have experienced a remarkable increase. By the end of October 2024, the city had recorded over 370,000 overnight stays - an increase of 20.5 percent compared to the previous year. The number of day guests is also continuously growing. This positive development was promoted, among other things, by the celebrations for German Unity Day, which aroused additional interest in the city. The number of visitors currently exceeds the capacity of the hotels in the city, some of which are already reaching their limits. For this reason, new hotel projects are being planned to adequately support tourism development, with the aim of providing up to 500 additional beds.

The residential ensemble itself, which combines over 30 important buildings and facilities in the historic city center, is described by UNESCO as a harmonious work of art. The infrastructure of courtly life and the romantic aesthetics of the 19th century are reflected here. In addition to the castle, the striking buildings also include the state theater, various churches, the train station, and many other interesting places that invite you to linger. In 2024, Schwerin Castle welcomed over 230,000 visitors, while the Castle Museum attracted around 137,000 guests. These figures impressively demonstrate the attractiveness of the location.

The challenges of popularity

But not everything goes smoothly. Schwerin is not yet optimally prepared for the increasing number of visitors. The city currently does not have a World Heritage Center, and visitor-friendly infrastructure, such as public toilets and clear signage for World Heritage buildings, is also missing. These aspects need to be improved in order to offer guests an unforgettable experience in the city. Catharina Groth expressed the hope that the positive development will continue and that Schwerin will continue to be highly rated as an attractive destination in international comparison.

The developments in Schwerin clearly show how valuable culture and history are for modern tourism. The UNESCO World Heritage title seems to be a blessing for the city and offers a fantastic opportunity to make Schwerin known as a magical travel region. Visit Schwerin and experience the fascination of this unique city for yourself.

For further information about Schwerin and the World Heritage site, please visit the articles on Borken newspaper and NDR.