Struggles persist in the travel industry
In the heart of Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has seen a notable resurgence in tourist arrivals, with the number of visitors to accommodation and camping facilities in May 2022 surpassing that of the previous pandemic-stricken year, 2021. However, the figures still fall short of the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
This pattern is primarily attributed to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the gradual recovery of tourism. In 2020 and 2021, travel and tourism were heavily restricted due to lockdowns, travel bans, and health concerns, causing a significant drop in tourist arrivals across Germany, including NRW. By May 2022, many restrictions had eased, allowing tourism to recover, pushing arrivals higher than the previous pandemic-impacted year.
Key factors explaining this pattern include the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, recovering mobility, and increased passenger numbers at airports and travel infrastructure. For instance, Dortmund Airport reported increased passenger traffic in 2022 compared to 2021, indicating a recovering mobility and contributing to greater arrivals at accommodations in the region.
NRW, being a highly populous and well-connected state, is popular for domestic and international tourists. As pandemic-related uncertainty and restrictions declined, more visitors resumed travel, but some caution, residual restrictions, or changes in consumer behavior prevented a complete rebound to 2019 levels by mid-2022.
In the first five months of 2022, approximately 6.5 million people visited accommodation and camping facilities in NRW, marking an 181.8% increase in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2021, totalling 15.8 million. The total number of arrivals in May 2022 increased by 404.4% compared to May 2021, to 2.1 million, and around 4.6 million arrivals were recorded in the accommodation facilities in May 2022.
However, it's worth noting that the number of arrivals in May 2022 was 235.0% more than in May 2021 but 1.5% less than in May 2019. This indicates that while the tourism industry is recovering, it is still in the process of returning to pre-pandemic levels.
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In May 2022, the number of guests from abroad was 761.5% higher than in May 2021, but 20.1% lower than in May 2019. This suggests that while international travel has increased, it has not yet fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
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Tourists are increasingly choosing North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) for their travel destinations, with the number of visitors to accommodation and camping facilities in May 2022 significantly higher than in 2021. This lifestyle preference for travel is likely due to the easing of pandemic-related restrictions, recovering mobility, and increased passenger numbers at airports and travel infrastructure.
International arrivals in NRW have seen a significant increase in May 2022 compared to 2021, but they are still short of the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, indicating that international travel is gradually recovering but not yet fully restored.
