Holidays in Hesse: bookings at a historically low level!

Holidays in Hesse: bookings at a historically low level!

The booking situation in Hesse's holiday regions is rather mixed this summer. According to the general manager of Dehoga Hessen, Gisbert Kern, there is a noticeable reluctance to consume among guests. Compared to the previous year, demand has declined in many parts of Hesse, and travelers are showing less interest, especially in short-term bookings and additional services, than in the summer of 2024 n-tv reported.

What is particularly noticeable is that businesses in rural areas and traditional holiday hotels report lower occupancy. While some regions, such as the Rheingau, are able to record longer stays, the general booking situation in the rest of the country falls short of expectations.

The effects of the Corona crisis

The worrying situation is further exacerbated by the negative effects of the corona pandemic. The Hessian umbrella organization DEHOGA warns of rising costs, which many restaurateurs and hoteliers are already feeling. A full 62 percent of Hessian restaurants, hotels, cafés, bars and inns report significant consumer restraint. This development could jeopardize the already fragile economic recovery, which has been painstakingly restored after the challenges of recent years Wiesbaden is alive informed.

The costs of food, personnel and energy have risen noticeably in recent years, in some cases by more than 40 percent. Gerald Kink, President of DEHOGA Hessen, expresses concern about upcoming Corona measures that could be implemented from October. Access controls, mask requirements and distance requirements could require additional effort from the hospitality industry, while the necessary support programs are lacking.

Tourism in Hesse in review

Tourism plays an essential role for the Hessian economy. Before the pandemic, the industry recorded gross sales of 14.3 billion euros and over 35 million overnight stays. In 2019, around 230,000 jobs were secured in the hospitality industry. Even though tourism in Hesse recovered in 2022 and recorded 88 percent more guests compared to the previous year, the number of overnight stays remains 16 percent below the 2019 level. In 2022, around 29.8 million overnight guests were counted, with gross sales of around 8.8 billion euros. This shows that the recovery from the pandemic also has its pitfalls, because the number of guests remains relatively low overall, as the Hessian Economics Minister said in a report by Hessen.de explained.

In summary, the industry is facing major challenges. Skilled labor shortages, sustainability and necessary investments in tourism infrastructure remain key issues, while the booking situation in summer 2025 and the coming months remains uncertain.