Harz tourism is suffering: fewer bookings despite beautiful views!

Harz tourism is suffering: fewer bookings despite beautiful views!

The Harz, a popular summer destination for numerous visitors from all over Germany, is facing a challenge this year: the weather. Reports show that tourist numbers in the region are seeing a decline due to poor weather conditions. Rene Maksimcev, hotelier from Güntersberge and also vice president of Dehoga Saxony-Anhalt, points out news38 shows that bookings are currently slow. The persistent rain has led to many potential holidaymakers canceling their stay in the Harz or rescheduling them at short notice.

The effects are noticeable: hotels and restaurants in the Harz region are reporting an increase in weather-related cancellations compared to the previous year. Maksimcev emphasizes that booking habits have changed significantly. Nowadays, more and more people tend to book their trips at short notice. Long-term bookings of five to seven nights are missing, and that is depressing the mood in the industry.

Fewer overnight stays, but crisis resilience

A look at the numbers shows that around 8 million overnight stays were recorded in the Harz in 2024, which means a decline of around 1.3% radiosaw reported. The managing director of the Harz Tourism Association, Carola Schmidt, points to the weather as a central reason for this decline. Nevertheless, she is satisfied with the figures and emphasizes that the Harz region has remarkable resilience to crises. Despite the challenges, more than 3,000 beds have left the market in the Harz region of Saxony-Anhalt in the last five years.

Andreas Meling, managing director of Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH, adds that the statistics, which only take into account establishments with 11 beds or more, may not fully capture the trend towards smaller accommodation and guesthouses. Once again it is confirmed that the industry is in constant change.

Trends in tourism and possible perspectives

But it's not just the Harz region that has to contend with challenges. Today's travelers are showing very different preferences, and tourism in general is moving in a new direction. Loud Statista There is a clear trend towards individual travel and a growing awareness of sustainability. Over half of Germans want to travel self-sufficiently on vacation and more and more people are interested in ecological travel.

Digitalization has also revolutionized travel booking. Online portals are widely used, especially those that allow short-term cancellations. This means that bookings can be made directly before arrival, which brings challenges for hosts in the Harz, but can also offer opportunities. The Harz remains an attractive destination, especially for active holidaymakers, even if the weather is not particularly kind this year. Maksimcev remains optimistic and believes in the region's appeal.