DümmerWeserLand is booming: More holidaymakers and fresh ideas for the region!

DümmerWeserLand is booming: More holidaymakers and fresh ideas for the region!

Tourism in DümmerWeserLand is experiencing a strong boom. As DümmerWeserland Touristik reports, the region is recording increasing numbers of overnight stays and guest arrivals. At the first general meeting in 2025 in Sulingen, managing director Dorothea Schneider presented the positive developments and future plans. The region achieved a total of 681,413 overnight stays and 242,958 guest arrivals in 2024. This represents an increase of 3 percent in overnight stays and 8 percent in arrivals compared to the previous year.

A key driver for this positive development is the Marissa Resort in the municipality of Altes Amt Lemförde. The website www.duemmerweserland.de recorded 156,100 users and a total of 1.6 million clicks last year – an increase of 6 percent. In addition, an AI-powered chatbot was used, which conducted 5,739 automated guest conversations. These advances are consistent with the implementation of the tourism development concept, which aims to further strengthen the region as a tourism destination.

Tourism measures and development approaches

The general meeting also included a detailed presentation of Dorothea Schneider's tourism concept, which envisages improving the region over the next ten years. Both municipal representatives and tourism providers took part in the event in the zoo restaurant in Ströhen. Important points are the enhancement of canoe tourism on the Hunte and Großer Aue waters as well as the creation of regional discovery points that will serve as photo locations and adventure locations.

The tourism development concept includes a total of 58 measures, ranging from the professionalization of the tourism organization to a professional marketing strategy. These steps are necessary to increase the efficiency of tourism offerings in the region. In this context, Jenny Meyer from Project M also identified existing weaknesses, such as the large number of overlapping tourism organizations, financial bottlenecks and inadequate networking of offers.

Growth potential and future forecasts

The DümmerWeserland region has excellent growth potential with its unique natural and moorland landscapes, the second largest inland lake in Lower Saxony and an extensive network of cycle paths. As demand for individual vacations and nature activities increases, the region could benefit from a planned increase in overnight stays of 4 percent annually by 2030 and a 10 percent increase in day trip traffic.

In 2022, 599,420 overnight stays and 207,218 arrivals in accommodation establishments were recorded in DümmerWeserland. These affected a total of 6,684 beds, including mobile homes and campsites, with an average stay of 2.9 days. The gross tourism-related turnover was 217 million euros, which underlines the economic importance of tourism for the region, with tax revenue for municipalities between 3.8 and 5.8 million euros annually.

DümmerWeserland Touristik is also committed to improving the region's internet presence and will use nationwide trade fairs and media presence to attract more tourists. A new directory of hosts will be published in June, which will once again expand the tourist offer, followed by a new edition of the motorhome and camping brochure later this year.