Tourism boom in the Viersen district: 158,200 overnight stays in the first half of the year!

Tourism boom in the Viersen district: 158,200 overnight stays in the first half of the year!

The tourism figures in the Viersen district show that the region is more popular than ever in the first half of 2025. According to a current analysis by the Food, Pleasure and Restaurants Union (NGG), around 158,200 overnight stays were recorded by guests from home and abroad. This information comes from the North Rhine-Westphalia State Statistical Office ( RP Online ). The reason for the flood of visitors is as diverse as it is exciting: vacations, day trips, business trips, visits to relatives or even medical treatments attract people to the region.

The managing director of NGG Krefeld-Neuss, Ina Korte-Grimberg, emphasizes the importance of every single overnight stay for the local gastronomy and hotel industry. “It is crucial that we not only keep an eye on the numbers, but also the people behind those numbers,” she says. It calls on entrepreneurs to invest in permanent staff and young talent in order to ensure high quality in service and cuisine and, in the long term, to counteract the “dangerous trend” of increasing temporary staff and declining skilled workers.

The tourism boom and its challenges

Despite the positive number of visitors, experts warn of the challenges that come with the tourism boom. “The trend towards fewer skilled workers could affect the quality of our services,” says Korte-Grimberg. It is becoming increasingly difficult to perceive the industry as a professional institution, which could affect the overall offerings. Targeted training and further education must therefore be at the top of the agenda.

In addition to the situation in the Viersen district, current studies show that the travel behavior of Germans is changing. Over 56 million Germans went on vacation in 2024, with a total of around 68 million travelers. Germany has established itself as the third largest market for tourism spending in recent years, with almost 112 billion US dollars in 2024. The most popular travel destinations at home are Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein, while Spain shines as the favorite abroad ( Statista ).

Shaping the future

What will the future hold for the industry? A look at the travel analysis shows that 29 percent of Germans plan to spend their vacation in their own country in 2025, while 39 percent are considering a trip to another European country. The demands of travelers are increasing and the demand for relaxation and nature experiences is growing. At the same time, the pressure on the hotel and catering industry to adapt to changing expectations is greater than ever.

In summary, it can be said that the Viersen district is facing exciting times. Significant investments in training and retaining skilled workers are necessary in order to maintain high quality in the tourism sector and at the same time meet growing demand. The coming years promise a colorful range of challenges and opportunities for the local gastronomy and hotel industry. The industry has what it takes to position itself as a professional provider and needs strong partners who will contribute to further development.

For further information on tourism trends and travel behavior of Germans, take a look at the comprehensive analyzes provided by various institutes. For example, the Tourism Competence Center provides, among other things, important data on tourism development in Germany ( Tourism Competence Center ).