Tourism in Baden-Württemberg: guest numbers are increasing, overnight stays are decreasing!

Tourism in Baden-Württemberg: guest numbers are increasing, overnight stays are decreasing!

The 2024/25 tourist winter season in Baden-Württemberg ended with mixed results. Loud South German newspaper Arrivals increased by 2.0 percent between November and April compared to the previous season. Overall, accommodation providers recorded around 9.6 million guests, which represents a pleasing increase.

However, the total number of overnight stays fell slightly by 0.3 percent. Particular declines were recorded in the months of January to March: In January, overnight stays remained just below the previous year's level with a decrease of 0.5 percent, while February saw a decline of 7.6 percent and March even of 7.0 percent. These developments were made by Statistics BW listed in detail.

Popular travel destinations and guest groups

All six travel regions in Baden-Württemberg were able to attract guests, and classic winter sports destinations such as the Black Forest and the Swabian Alb remained in particular demand. Health resorts and resorts offered a wide range of offerings that impressed visitors. Tourism State Secretary Patrick Rapp (CDU) expressed his satisfaction with the record number of guest arrivals and emphasized the importance of preparing resorts for future climatic changes.

The differences between domestic and foreign guests are particularly interesting. Arrivals from abroad rose by 2.5 percent, while overnight stays fell by 1.9 percent. In contrast, domestic guest arrivals increased by 1.8 percent and overnight stays remained stable with an increase of 0.1 percent.

Climate change and sustainable development

The ministry emphasizes the need to prepare optimistically for climate change. Future holiday destinations will have to prepare for milder and less snowy winter months. This could increase the relevance of year-round, weather-independent experiences and modern infrastructure.

A new interactive application has been launched in the updated Tourism Atlas, allowing analysis of key travel destinations based on regional data. These statistics highlight seasonal patterns in tourist demand and show that Dutch and Danish guests in particular record higher numbers of overnight stays along motorways, while guests from overseas prefer larger cities.

Overall, it can be said that the 2024/25 winter season brings both challenges and encouraging increases in visitor numbers. The numerous aspects affecting the tourism sector require adaptation of offers in order to meet changing demands.