Saxony's vacation regions are expecting many vacationers

Saxony's vacation regions are expecting many vacationers in the coming weeks. The state tourism association reported to the German Press Agency that most regions had a good booking situation before the start of the summer vacations and were satisfied. City breaks are also on the rise again. "This trend has been going on for some time. Only the pandemic years have shifted bookings to more rural regions." Most arrivals and overnight stays in the summer were once again registered in Dresden and Leipzig. These trips are often in connection with events or cultural offers.

City trips are used for shorter stays of one or two nights, according to the association. This is contrasted by somewhat longer trips of up to four days to more rural regions, such as Saxon Switzerland or the Ore Mountains. A vacation in Saxony offers a combination of culture and nature - thanks to relatively short distances. Camping is also still popular.

According to the State Statistical Office, the number of overnight stays last year in the summer months of June, July and August was six million in accommodation with ten beds or more and on equivalent campsites. This included 700,000 guests from abroad, most of them from Poland. August was the most popular month of the whole of 2023, with 2.1 million overnight stays recorded in the Free State.

Holidays on your doorstep

The Ore Mountains are a "destination for short breaks" at the start of the summer vacations, said Claudia Brödner from the Ore Mountains Tourism Association in Annaberg-Buchholz. "We are registering advance bookings from Eibenstock, the spa town of Oberwiesenthal to the Eastern Ore Mountains." Accommodation is still available in all categories. The association's booking service supports those looking for accommodation.

"With the start of the vacations, we expect bookings from last-minute bookers who prefer a vacation on their doorstep," explained Brödner. People from Saxony or visitors from neighboring federal states often take advantage of the accommodation offers. In the Ore Mountains, outdoor activities such as mountain biking and hiking are also a particular focus this season.

Germans are once again spending more of their annual vacation in Italy or Spain, explained Sebastian Klink, Deputy Chairman of the Dresden Tourism Association. For this reason, booking behavior in the state capital will be very short-term in July and August and will return to the usual level after the "top summers" in the Corona period. "There are already advance bookings at weekends or on concert days." Last year, August was the strongest month of the summer season with 562,000 overnight stays, followed by July with 520,000.

Camping without advance reservations

The trend towards last-minute bookings has also become established in Upper Lusatia in recent years, said Sophie Nücklich from the Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien marketing company. Campsites in particular are foregoing advance reservations. "They take advantage of the tendency towards spontaneity and only rely on so-called walk-in customers." Overall, accommodation providers in Upper Lusatia have a positive outlook for the coming months. The number of holidaymakers from Poland and the Czech Republic is increasing. "Upper Lusatia is gaining popularity across borders."

The demand for offers and overnight stays in Leipzig in summer is currently very high, according to Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH. The record months of July and August 2023 could be reached or even exceeded again this year. Individual tourists as well as families come in the summer months. Demand for active tourism offers is also increasing significantly, including hiking, cycling and camping. Leipzig Zoo and the Belantis amusement park are also very popular.