Tourism year with ups and downs

A roller coaster of emotions lies behind tourism in the Sauerland when looking at the overnight stay statistics of the past year. While 2021 got off to an inauspicious start with the massive restrictions caused by the lockdown until May, the figures for the late summer and fall in particular give hope for a successful 2022.

"Sauerland Tourism would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all employees in the restaurant, hotel and leisure industry," emphasizes Thomas Weber, Managing Director of Sauerland Tourism. "Everyone has experienced bad times and has been worried about their jobs. And that, unfortunately, is still continuing. But we want you to know that we are aware that you are the foundation of our hospitable Sauerland. We therefore hope with you that we will be able to welcome numerous guests again in the coming months and that the situation in the industry will normalize."

In bare figures, this means 1,405,131 guest arrivals (7.0% less than in 2020) and 5,040,521 overnight stays (2.7% less than in 2020) for the "Land of a Thousand Mountains". The average length of stay was 3.6 days, slightly higher than in previous years. However, comparisons with previous years are difficult due to the massive impact of the various Corona measures on travel and also the long tourist travel ban. "Nevertheless, the figures clearly show that the Sauerland continues to be a popular travel region and, particularly in the months of July to October, was able to build on the successful period before the pandemic and record well over 700,000 overnight guest stays each month," explains Rouven Soyka, press officer at Sauerland Tourism. This is particularly remarkable because the late summer and fall were quite changeable in terms of weather.

For this year, Sauerland Tourism has planned a lot, especially in marketing, to vigorously beat the advertising drum for the region. "We are currently busy with intensive preparations for measures and campaigns that are intended to strengthen our industry and make people want to stay in the Sauerland. The aim here is to continue to focus on the special features of the region," explains Dr. Jürgen Fischbach, Head of Marketing at Sauerland Tourism. "As a hip outdoor region, we score points above all with our wide range of quality hiking and biking trails, as well as numerous other options for activities in the green outdoors. A factor that has once again gained in importance in the past two years when choosing a vacation destination."

"A new feature is certainly that many citizens and guests have to calculate quite due to increased energy and fuel prices. But the best, the vast well-kept landscape, is very close and virtually free: so we are full of hope that the region will be well visited again. Gastronomy, hotel business, retail trade, leisure destinations and, above all, the strong honorary office, which is indispensable, are ready and waiting. One cannot say thank you to them all often enough and wish much success", so Thomas weber.

Contact for the press:
Rouven Soyka, Sauerland-Tourismus e. V.
Johannes Hummel way 1, 57392 Schmallenberg
Tel.: 02974-969830, e-mail: presse@sauerland.com