Rapid surge in overnight stays at German camping sites during nighttime
*Camping fever sweeps Germany as overnight stays hit record high *
Taking a break from the routine and soaking up the great outdoors has become more popular than ever in Germany. With a staggering 42.9 million overnight stays recorded in 2024, campsites have witnessed an unprecedented surge in guest arrivals - a whopping 1.4% increase over 2023 and a whopping 19.9% jump compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019 [5].
While the Corona years 2020 and 2021 held travel restrictions and accommodation bans back, the number of camping overnight stays has consistently risen in recent years. Compared to 2004, when just 21.4 million overnight stays were reported, the campsite industry has more than doubled its business [5]. In contrast, the overall accommodation market saw a 46.4% increase in this period.
So where are all these happy campers flocking to? The Baltic Sea in Schleswig-Holstein proved to be the most attractive option with a whopping 3.4 million overnight stays recorded [5]. Next in line were the Black Forest (2.6 million), the North Sea coast in Lower Saxony (1.9 million), and the Bavarian Allgäu (nearly 1.8 million). Mecklenburg’s Baltic Sea coast and Vorpommern overtook the Lake Constance-Oberschwaben region, which was previously among the top five most popular camping destinations [5].
Global campers showed a particular fondness for southwestern Germany, with international visitors spending the most nights in the Black Forest (739,000), followed by the Mosel-Saar region (338,000), the Eifel in Rhineland-Palatinate (256,000), Lake Constance-Oberschwaben (226,000), and the Bavarian Allgäu (160,000) in 2024 [5].
Despite the rising prices, with overnight stays on a motorhome pitch costing an average 27.7% more than in 2020, and camping pitch fees increasing by 24.6% [5], the camping industry managed to hold its own against the overall increase in accommodation prices. Overnight stays across all accommodation types saw a 23.1% increase in the same period, while consumer prices overall increased by 19.3% compared to 2020 [5].
(Rewritten by Rene Wagner, edited by Klaus Lauer - For further questions, please contact our newsroom in Berlin at [email protected])
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- The surge in camping popularity in Germany has led to record-breaking 42.9 million overnight stays in 2024, with a significant increase of 1.4% over 2023 and 19.9% compared to 2019, showcasing the growth in the camping industry.
- The Palatinate region, specifically the Mosel-Saar area, emerged as a favorite among global campers, who spent 338,000 nights there in 2024, illustrating the region's intrigue for outdoor retreats.
- While prices for camping pitches rose by 24.6%, the camping industry managed to maintain its footing against the general rise in accommodation prices, with overnight stays across all types of accommodations increasing by 23.1% in the same period.
- As camping lifestyles gain traction and prices become significant factors to consider, travel-seekers are still drawn to the great outdoors, potentially indicating a sustained growth for the camping sector in Europe.
