Tourism in Rhineland-Palatinate: Hope and crisis for the summer season!

Tourism in Rhineland-Palatinate: Hope and crisis for the summer season!

On June 21, 2025, the Rhineland-Palatinate hospitality industry will draw a mixed conclusion at the beginning of the summer season. In a special evaluation of the economic survey, the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Commerce and Industry found that tourism is slowly recovering from the pandemic-related slumps, but that the economic situation of many companies remains tense. Currently, only 18% of those surveyed rate their business situation as good, while almost 50% rated it as satisfactory and a third of companies rated it negatively.

Another point of concern is the sales development, which is falling short of expectations. Only 14% of companies reported an increase in sales in the last 12 months, while 39% reported a decrease in revenue. The business climate index fell from 91 to 83.4 points compared to the previous year, indicating a deterioration in the mood in the industry.

Warning of increasing costs

Jan Heidemanns, tourism policy spokesman for the Rhineland-Palatinate Chamber of Industry and Commerce, expresses concern about the increased costs that are putting a strain on the industry. Almost half of the companies report a decline in equity capital, and one in four companies has acute liquidity bottlenecks. Only 15% of companies are optimistic about the summer season.

There are many reasons for the tense situation: high energy and raw material prices, rising wage costs and a lack of skilled workers and workers are affecting companies. The uncertain economic policy framework also contributes to the uncertainty, which means that investments are planned cautiously.

Guest numbers remain stable, but challenges remain

Rhineland-Palatinate recorded around 8.67 million guests and 22.35 million overnight stays in 2024, which corresponds to a slight increase of 0.4% compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the number of hospitality businesses has fallen by 10% in the last ten years. The IHK working group is therefore urgently calling for better economic conditions to secure the hotel and catering industry in the region.

A particular aspect that is putting a strain on the industry is the introduction or expansion of tourism taxes, particularly the so-called bed tax. In order to improve the situation of companies, the IHK working group supports measures to secure skilled workers as well as company succession and business start-ups. For this purpose, the “Working Family” employer network was set up to make the hospitality industry more visible as an attractive employer.

Furthermore, the HOGANEXT training concept will be presented, which offers additional qualification opportunities for young people in gastronomic professions. Such initiatives are necessary to overcome the challenges and sustainably strengthen the tourism industry.

For future planning and analysis, various studies and surveys are also available that document current trends and developments in travel behavior, including the regular travel analysis by the Holiday and Travel Research Group (FUR) and the ADAC Travel Monitor. These data sets offer valuable insights into the booking and travel behavior of German holidaymakers and can be used to develop targeted marketing strategies and support the hospitality industry.

The challenges of the industry are undisputed, but with targeted measures and a focus on guest satisfaction and improving working conditions, the course could be set for a positive development of the Rhineland-Palatinate hospitality industry. Further information for those interested can be found in the reports from MRN News and Tourism Competence Center.