Tourism figures 2021 in Münsterland increase slightly, but are still significantly below pre-Corona levels

"In normal times we could all pat ourselves on the back considering the positive development of tourism figures in 2021 compared to the previous year," says Michael Kösters, general representative and head of tourism at the regional management organisation Münsterland e.V. "However, times are not normal and we have to note that our hospitality businesses continue to suffer massively from the effects of the Corona pandemic and urgently need a permanent easing perspective."

Tourism figures for the full year 2021 were published today by Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen (IT.NRW). According to the figures, there was a 12.8 per cent increase in arrivals in the Münsterland travel region compared to 2020, with 1,046,108 arrivals, and a 10.8 per cent increase in overnight stays, with 2,664,682 overnight stays.

According to Kösters, however, the comparison with the last year before the pandemic is more important: "Compared to 2019, Münsterland recorded a significant minus of 40.5 per cent in guest arrivals and a minus of 33.7 per cent in overnight stays. This puts us above the NRW state average, but still far from the pre-Corona level. At least the summer months of 2021 in particular went very well in the leisure sector: in August we even recorded higher figures than in 2019. However, business tourism has slumped massively since the start of the 2020 pandemic and will probably only recover very slowly."

Looking ahead to 2022, Kösters is ambivalent. "Compared to the two previous years, we haven't had a lockdown so far in 2022, even though major restrictions for hosts and guests are of course there. The trend towards German tourism makes me quite optimistic about the future with regard to leisure tourism in Münsterland. However, the big downer remains business tourism." In addition, with a view to further development, it is important that the framework conditions are as uniform as possible, easy to understand and, above all, reliable and lasting. This is important on both the supplier and the demand side in order to maintain security and confidence in travel. Following the most recent decisions of the federal and state governments, a reliable positive prognosis is emerging in principle and step by step.

Münsterland e.V. and its partners in the region are taking the lead in promoting Münsterland as a safe holiday and excursion destination. Among other things, the successful campaign "Dein MünsterLand Moment" (Your MünsterLand Moment), which Münsterland e.V. launched in 2020 together with Münster Marketing and the initiative Starke Innenstadt Münster (Strong City Centre Münster), is to be continued. Numerous activities are also still underway in the ERDF funding project "Münsterland Castles and Palaces Region". In addition, Münsterland e.V. received one million euros last week through the REACT-EU initiative for the digitalisation of tourism offers. "We will use this to create content such as freely available photos and videos and to implement a digital marketing campaign for the Münsterland travel region," says Kösters.

www.muensterland.com/tourismus