Cruise tourism in Hamburg: Germans and foreigners in comparison!

Cruise tourism in Hamburg: Germans and foreigners in comparison!

Hamburg is undeniably the center of German cruise tourism. Last year, over 1.3 million cruise passengers arrived here, an increase of around 100,000 passengers compared to the previous year. In total, the city had 266 cruise calls, although the ports of Kiel and Warnemünde cannot keep up. This development has underlined the importance of maritime tourism as an economic factor in the Hanseatic city, said Economics Senator Melanie Leonhard. Aida and MSC offer almost weekly departures from Hamburg, including to Norway and the Baltic Sea.

An increase of around 300 cruise ships is expected for 2023. In order to reduce environmental pollution, over 3,000 tons of CO₂ have already been saved in Hamburg by using shore power. Around 70% of the ships that dock in Hamburg use this shore power connection, which represents an important step towards sustainable tourism.

Visitor behavior and hotspots

A method recently tested in Hamburg to analyze the visitor behavior of cruise passengers has identified eleven popular hotspots. There is a clear difference in the behavior between German and foreign tourists. German guests tend to spread throughout the city and visit maritime areas such as the fish market and the jetties. In contrast, international visitors are more likely to go to the airport and to shopping areas such as Jungfernstieg and Mönckebergstrasse MDR reported.

In order to improve the distribution of tourists, researcher Sven Groß suggests creating targeted incentives. For example, special tickets for local transport could help German tourists to discover less frequented areas of the city. Such measures could help to use Hamburg's tourist infrastructure more effectively and thus make guests' stay more pleasant.

Maritime events and future developments

Hamburg's maritime scene is further enlivened by major events. The 836th port anniversary will take place on May 9th to 11th, while the Cruise Days from September 12th to 14th will attract many visitors. In addition, the third cruise terminal is expected to open in 2025, which will provide further impetus for tourism in the city.

These positive developments in tourism do not only come from the cruise industry. Tourism across Germany is also showing strong growth, despite the challenging economic situation and inflation. Overnight stays by domestic guests rose by 4.8% in November compared to the previous year. Overall, tourism in Germany recorded a new record of 465.3 million overnight stays from January to November Fink Hamburg.