Available vacancies for the holiday season's kickoff in various accommodations - Vacation beds still available for booking.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, many hotels are grappling with lower-than-expected occupancy rates at the beginning of the summer holidays. According to a survey conducted by Tourism NRW and Dehoga NRW, the hotel and restaurant association, 29% of businesses are dissatisfied with occupancy or demand, and 9% are very dissatisfied.
The main reasons for the decrease in demand, as reported by regional tourism authorities, include weak consumer confidence and restrained travel spending due to ongoing economic uncertainties. Many potential holidaymakers are cutting back on leisure travel, which has a significant impact on hotel bookings.
Increased competition from alternative accommodation options, such as private rentals and short-term lets, has also diverted some demand away from traditional hotels. The lingering effects from previous years' disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have changed travel habits and reduced the number of tourists visiting the region.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Heike Döll-König, the managing director of Tourism NRW, remains optimistic for the summer holidays. She believes that many people book at short notice for holidays, especially for short stays.
The survey included responses from 270 tourist businesses from North Rhine-Westphalia. Interestingly, providers of holiday apartments and houses reported being more satisfied than the average.
Patrick Rothkopf, president of Dehoga NRW, has called for a reduction in bureaucracy and flexible working hours to help businesses navigate these difficult times. He believes that such measures could stimulate demand and improve the overall situation.
The first official holiday day of the summer holidays is on Monday. Many families in North Rhine-Westphalia are starting their holidays this weekend. Tourism NRW is based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia.
Another close third remained neutral in the survey. Business hotels in particular expressed strong dissatisfaction with demand during the holidays. However, the demand on campsites is running well, with more than three-quarters of those surveyed reporting being satisfied or very satisfied with demand.
The reduction of VAT on food in the catering industry to 7 percent from 2026 is considered very important by many businesses in the region. This could potentially help boost demand and improve the overall economic situation for the tourism industry in North Rhine-Westphalia.
[1] It's worth noting that while there has been a noticeable reduction in asylum seekers occupying hotel spaces compared to earlier years, this has not necessarily translated into higher tourist hotel occupancy, indicating that other demand factors dominate the current situation.
- Some travelers might consider vocational training as an alternative lifestyle choice, opting for vocational training programs instead of traditional leisure travel, thereby reducing the demand for hotels during summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- To stimulate demand in the tourism industry, policymakers could consider implementing measures such as flexible working hours and a reduction of bureaucracy, as suggested by Patrick Rothkopf, which could align with the lifestyle choices of individuals pursuing vocational training, potentially increasing tourism overall.
