Persistently high inflation does not appear to be dampening Germans’ willingness to travel. Quite the opposite. Demand is increasing significantly ahead of the Berlin International Tourism Fair, which opens its doors on Tuesday 7 March. “Travel agencies and travel agents have started this year at an intensive pace,” states the president of the German Association of Travel Agencies (DRV), Norbert Fiebig. According to him, bookings are approaching pre-coronavirus levels and, therefore, there is optimism among hoteliers, restaurant owners and other stakeholders in Germany.
In January, Germans made reservations worth more than three billion euros, either through tourist offices or traditional travel portals, according to data from the analysis company TDA. Booking turnover exceeded the pre-crisis level of January 2019 by 12%. Combined with all booking months of the current tourism year, the summer season at the end of January was 16% below pre-coronavirus levels. In the same period last year, however, a decrease of 48% was recorded. The current winter season has already reached 91% of the pre-crisis level.
“Early bookings are back”
“We’re seeing a lot of people’s need for holidays, especially in the summer, and early bookings are coming back,” says Fiebig. This makes travel agents and travel agencies optimistic. “Our aim is to finish at least at the same level as 2019, which we almost achieved last summer season.”
Despite concerns regarding the economy, people in Germany are in the mood to travel, according to data from the Forschungsgemeinschaft Urlaub und Reisen (FUR). The assessment of the personal financial situation is murky compared to last year – 29% of respondents fear it will worsen, while 69% of the more than 7,000 respondents definitely plan to travel this year. Despite the gloomy economic outlook, it is very likely that pre-coronavirus levels will be exceeded in terms of the number of holiday trips.
German domestic tourism will also benefit
According to research by the BAT Stiftung für Zukunftsfragen, Germans tend to choose more frugal holidays, rather than going without them altogether. For example, they choose to limit their shopping, plan trips during periods of low attendance or choose a destination as cheap as possible.
According to the German Tourism Association (DTV), Germany as a tourist destination might benefit from this. “Some German citizens may not take long trips because of high inflation or for climate protection reasons and instead take a holiday in Germany,” says DTV president Reinhard Mayer. In addition, demand from overseas visitors is picking up once more, benefiting city tourism in particular. Although it is very likely that numbers like those of 2019 will be recorded, it remains difficult to make an accurate prediction due to the short-term behavior of people in bookings.
The lack of workers continues
However, the industry is concerned regarding the lack of skilled workers. “Without the immigration of skilled workers from abroad, we will not be able to maintain the current levels of supply in tourism services,” Meyer warns. Holidaymakers already felt the effects of air traffic staff shortages last year, with delays, flight cancellations and long waiting times. There does not seem to be any indication of a radical differentiation of conditions.
Lufthansa, in any case, has already cut its summer flight schedule. Staff shortages in the sector have not yet been fully overcome across Europe. Therefore, it was better to withdraw the flights from the schedule now, than to cancel them at the last minute, as happened last year. This also facilitates the planning of travelers.
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the tourism industry will meet once more in Berlin at this year’s ITB. Unlike in the pre-coronavirus years, ITB is now only open to trade visitors.
Source: Deutsche Welle
