Thus, Leipzig can look back on the best tourist year in its history. In addition, there were 1,955,616 commercial overnight stays in the Leipzig region, resulting in a total volume of around 4.9 million overnight stays for the entire Leipzig region.
This corresponds to a share of 25.9 percent of total overnight stays in Saxony. In 2016, Leipzig's guests had a total of 127 accommodation establishments with 14,864 beds at their disposal (2015: 14,798). The average length of stay was 1.8 days, as in the previous year.
Volker Bremer, Managing Director of Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing (LTM) GmbH, is pleased about the new guest record: "Leipzig's national and international reputation continues to grow. This is reflected in the guest statistics, and thus, we were able to win more guests also in 2016."
Major events, such as the 100th German Catholic Congress in Leipzig, or the promotion of RB Leipzig to the top flight in the Bundesliga have generated further tourist impulses and brought Leipzig into the focus of the media.
Guest Statistics
Compared with the previous year, the share of domestic guests rose in 2016 by 2.1 percent (arrivals), and 2.2 percent (overnight stays). The share of foreign tourists also increased. Their arrivals and overnight stays rose in 2016 to 216,903 (+3.7 percent), and 441,687 (+3.9 percent). This corresponds to a share of 15.2 percent of total overnight stays (2015: 15 percent).
For the first time, Great Britain (38,600) was ranked number 1 in the overall comparison of foreign overnight stays. The United States (38,366) fell back to second place. In 3rd place follows Switzerland (36,745). Shortly before the jump into the TOP 10 of the foreign guests is the Russian Federation with 12,259 overnight stays. The highest growth was seen amongst guests from Belgium (+26.0 per cent) and the Netherlands (19.9 per cent).
The hit list of foreign visitors in 2016:
- UK: 38,600 overnight stays, 11.9 per cent
- USA: 38,366 overnight stays, -0.2 per cent
- Switzerland: 36,745 overnight stays, + 5.2 per cent
- Netherlands: 32,818 overnight stays, up 19.9 per cent
- Austria: 32,656 overnight stays, +2.2 per cent
- Poland: 22,032 overnight stays, -22.6 per cent
- Italy: 17,092 overnight stays, up 9.4 per cent
- France: 16,070 overnight stays, +10.1 per cent
- Spain: 13,287 overnight stays, -34.6 per cent
- Belgium: 13,099 overnight stays, +26.0 per cent
Highlights 2017
Also in the year 2017, there is plenty to experience in the cultural metropolis of Leipzig. Traditional-rich trade fairs and festivals, such as the Leipzig Book Fair or the Wave Gothic Festival, will attract many visitors to Leipzig as they do every year. In addition, more than 200 events, as well as the 'Church Day on the Way', will take place during the Jubilee '500 years of the Reformation', will be held from the 25th to 28th of May, to which tens of thousands of guests are expected.