Harz tourism is desperate: cancellations, rain and empty beds!

Harz tourism is desperate: cancellations, rain and empty beds!

The Harz, a popular holiday destination in Germany, has always attracted many visitors, but this year an unpleasant picture emerges. According to the latest reports from news38 Due to the bad weather there are fewer guests than usual. Rene Maksimcev, hotelier from Güntersberge and vice president of Dehoga Saxony-Anhalt, warns: “The booking situation is restrained.” This means that many travelers make short-term bookings rather than long-term bookings over several nights. The result: rooms remain empty everywhere in the Harz, while the number of guests stagnates compared to the previous year.

What is particularly noticeable is the increase in short-term cancellations, which are putting additional strain on the industry. “The bad weather is a direct factor for these declines,” explains Maksimcev. The general economic situation and the reduced purchasing power of holidaymakers have also contributed to the fact that hotel bookings are not really picking up this year. Many companies that were previously fully booked were no longer able to sell their rooms.

A mild analysis of the numbers

A look at the number of overnight stays is still worth noting: in 2024, the Harz Tourism Association recorded around 8 million overnight stays, which represents a decline of around 1.3% compared to the previous year radiosaw reported. Although these figures reflect a slight decline, managing director Carola Schmidt is optimistic. She is convinced that the Harz remains a crisis-resistant region despite all adversities.

Interestingly, over 3,000 beds have disappeared in the Saxony-Anhalt Harz in the last five years. This is partly because the statistics only cover establishments with 11 or more beds and do not take into account the growing popularity of smaller hotels and holiday apartments. Andreas Meling, managing director of Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH, suggests that this recording does not fully do justice to reality.

Set the right priorities

And what is the overall travel behavior of Germans? Reports from Statista show that more than 56 million Germans traveled in 2024, with a total of around 68 million travelers. Within German borders, your own country remains the most popular destination. At least 29% of Germans plan to spend their vacation in Germany in 2025, with popular regional travel destinations being Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein.

Despite the current challenges, the Harz has the potential to get back into the race. Maksimcev remains optimistic and sees the beautiful side of a vacation in the Harz: “It’s not just the weather that counts, but also the attractiveness of the region for active vacationers.” The Harz offers a variety of opportunities for nature experiences and cultural exchange that can defy all odds. With a good knack for tourism design, the coming year may be able to deliver encouraging figures again.