Domestic tourism drives rise in German hotel stays in August

German hotels and guesthouses saw bed occupancy rates rise to almost pre-pandemic levels, driven by a rise in domestic travellers, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reported on Friday.

Overnight stays in August were down just 3.1 per cent from the figure recorded in August 2019, in an indication of a return to normality after the coronavirus pandemic virtually shut the sector down last year.

August 2021 overnight stays came in at 56.1 million, up 13.4 per cent on last year.

Holidaying at home – staycationing – is in fashion, with overnight stays by locals rising in August by 13.7 per cent on the year to 51 million. Stays by foreign visitors were up 10 per cent on the year at 5.1 million, but this figure remains 52.7 per cent below that of 2019.

Over the first eight months, hotels, guesthouses, holiday apartments, campsites and other accommodation recorded 180.3 million overnight stays, 15 per cent down on the same period last year.