Lake Garda in crisis: Holidaymakers from Germany and Italy stay away!

Lake Garda in crisis: Holidaymakers from Germany and Italy stay away!

Lake Garda is in a serious crisis situation in the summer of 2025. High costs in Italy mean that fewer and fewer holidaymakers, especially Germans and Italians, are visiting the region. In the past few months, numerous restaurants and hotels have recorded drastic drops in sales of up to 20 percent. Despite the picturesque landscapes and popular excursion destinations, many of these nations' regular guests have stayed away. How Mercury reports, Fabio Pasqualini, president of the trade association Confcommercio Bardolino, has observed a significant change in tourism. While the number of guests from Northern Europe is increasing, demand from German and Italian holidaymakers remains far below expectations.

Another important aspect is the sharply increased prices. A family of four now pays almost twice as much for a pizza, which scares off many potential visitors. The price increases are a main reason why tourists stay away. The retail trade on Lake Garda is also suffering from this economic situation, with sales declines of between 10 and 20 percent. Construction sites on the Brenner Pass are also extending the travel time for German tourists from the original five to seven hours, which further reduces the region's attractiveness.

Changed travel habits

The ongoing international crises have a significant impact on purchasing power and tourism in Italy, which is also noticeable on Lake Garda. courier reports on a subdued summer season that poses challenges for hoteliers and restaurateurs. In July, many streets and squares around Lake Garda were hardly visited. Gardesana Street, once a busy route for tourists, was empty and devoid of foreign cars.

Although the number of international guests from Northern Europe is increasing, their spending habits are different. They spend less money, consume less, rarely go shopping and spend more time at campsites. While the campsites tend to be busy, the restaurants and shops usually remain empty. After 10:30 p.m., the streets of Lake Garda are sparsely busy, indicating changing leisure habits.

Future developments uncertain

The future of tourism on Lake Garda is facing profound change. It is unclear whether prices will fall to encourage the return of German holidaymakers. The hotel industry is seeing declining demand, particularly for last-minute bookings, while Italian holidaymakers are more likely to come for short stays. A large proportion of medium-sized businesses in Austria, Germany and Italy plan their holidays more carefully and in a more targeted manner. Current trends suggest that the region may not be able to return to the strong sales times of previous years.

The situation on Lake Garda remains tense and tourism industry players are faced with the challenge of finding adequate solutions to maintain the region's attractiveness and win back future visitors.