Baden-Württemberg's camping industry is poised for a record-breaking year, with camping enthusiasts flocking to popular regions like the Black Forest and Lake Constance. Kurt Bonath, chairman of the State Association of the Camping Industry in Baden-Württemberg, reported that many campground operators described 2024 as their best year ever. The sector anticipates setting new records if favorable conditions persist through autumn and winter, building on strong performance during holiday periods with significantly better weather than in previous years.
Camping remains one of the most successful tourism segments in the region, characterized by continuously rising overnight stays. The state currently has 387 camping operations recorded in official statistics, including thirteen 5-star sites and thirty-one 4-star facilities. Approximately 80% of all guests come from within Germany, indicating strong domestic demand. The summer months from June to August continue to be the peak season, generating the highest number of overnight stays on camping grounds.
The offseason, typically defined as periods outside school holidays and public holidays, presents both challenges and opportunities for the industry. Many campgrounds are less crowded during these times and often offer lower prices. However, operators are increasingly extending their seasons by adding amenities such as saunas and indoor swimming pools, attracting guests who arrive earlier in spring and stay later into autumn, sometimes through November. This strategic focus on season extension represents a significant opportunity for improved occupancy rates throughout the year.
The trend toward resort-style camping reflects growing guest preferences for having activities and services readily available on-site. While many existing campgrounds in the region are too small to accommodate comprehensive resort facilities, industry leaders emphasize the importance of collaboration with local destinations and external service providers. The camping association notes that tourist camping generates more revenue and economic activity than long-term seasonal camping, bringing additional benefits to local gastronomy and infrastructure while creating more vibrant community environments.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on Sunday evening, forming a sea of lights with mobile phone torches and lighters to protest for diversity and against racism. The rally came just days after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made controversial comments about...
The mood in Germany's residential construction sector has improved to its highest level in over three years, according to the latest Ifo Institute survey. The business climate index for housing construction rose sharply in September to -21.8 points, up from -26.4 points in August, marking the...
The International Biathlon Union is confronting climate change head-on with experimental roller-ski competitions, staging the Loop One Festival in Munich's Olympic Park as both a public showcase and practical preparation for potentially snowless winters. Top athletes from around the world...
Berlin police deployed approximately 130 officers in a major operation to secure the eviction of a partially occupied residential building in the city's Mitte district near the Federal Intelligence Service and Natural History Museum. The operation, which has now concluded, saw police officers...
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Germany's largest naval shipbuilder, made a strong debut on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Monday, with shares trading significantly above initial expectations. The stock opened at €60 per share, far surpassing analyst forecasts of approximately €36, and...
