Tourism boom on Sylt: More guests, but fewer overnight stays!

Tourism boom on Sylt: More guests, but fewer overnight stays!

Tourism in Schleswig-Holstein is showing dynamic development. More guests visited the state in July 2025 than in the same period last year. Especially on Sylt, Germany's most famous island, the number of overnight stays rose to 1.8 million, which corresponds to an increase of almost two percent. The total number of guests on Sylt grew by 2.4 percent. However, these positive trends contrast with booking numbers in other parts of the country.

In Kappeln, in the Schleswig-Flensburg district, overnight stays fell by six percent compared to the previous year. The popularity of short vacation trips is also increasing, leading to a decrease in the average length of stay. However, increases in overnight stays were noted for Flensburg, Schleswig and Husum, while in St. Peter-Ording overnight stays fell by almost two percent to over one million. The coastal town of Büsum, on the other hand, was able to increase slightly by 0.2 percent.

Problems and challenges

Despite the positive number of visitors to Sylt, some destinations are struggling with noticeable declines. In Friedrichskoog, also in the Nordfriesland district, the number of guests fell by an alarming 32.4 percent due to necessary dike renovations, which was also reflected in overnight stays of minus 10.5 percent.

Tourism is a crucial economic factor for Schleswig-Holstein. In 2024, the industry achieved annual sales of around 10.8 billion euros. The state promotes tourist businesses and the infrastructure in the municipalities in order to adapt the offers to the needs of the guests. Statistics from the Northern Statistics Office show that a total of 9,416,790 arrivals and 38,089,663 overnight stays were recorded in 2024, with stability in booking numbers.

Incidents and changes

The summer holidays in Schleswig-Holstein are now over and the next holidays are coming up next month. In order to relieve pressure on tourism hotspots, the West Coast University of Applied Sciences is receiving funding as part of a research project. In many places in the state, certain shops are allowed to open on Sundays and public holidays, a step that meets the needs of holidaymakers.

In addition, holidaymakers on the North and Baltic Seas will have to pay more this year for beach chairs, spa taxes and usage fees. These changes raise questions about pricing in the emerging tourism sector, which is more reliant than ever on the influx of guests.

In summary, tourism in Schleswig-Holstein is characterized by a multitude of challenges and opportunities that need to be overcome in the coming year. Despite declining numbers of overnight stays in certain regions, the country remains one of the most attractive holiday regions in Germany. Current developments show that adaptation to new trends and guest needs is necessary.

For more detailed information on tourism in Schleswig-Holstein, visit the website NDR and schleswig-holstein.de.