3.5 million overnight stays and 1.6 million arrivals for January to August 2023

3.5 million overnight stays and 1.6 million arrivals were recorded in Dresden Elbland from January to August 2023. The very good balance in the first eight months of 2023 means that the gap to the record year 2019 is continuing to narrow. The recovery is 92% in overnight stays and 89% in arrivals compared to the same period in 2019. "This success confirms the tourism objectives and strategic measures for tourism in the state capital," says Annekatrin Klepsch, Mayor for Culture, Science and Tourism. "These include consistent work on the city's internal and external image, internationalisation and the strengthening of innovative and sustainable approaches, particularly in the business tourism segment. Last but not least, the years of consistent consolidation of the offers in Dresden and the Elbland region are paying off. In this respect, we would also like to thank the municipalities in the Elbland region for their unwavering commitment to joint marketing." 

While the domestic market generated 16% more overnight stays for Dresden Elbland in the period from January to August 2023, the figure from abroad was +39% compared to the same period last year. All of the top 10 foreign markets recorded double-digit growth, including top 1 Poland with +43 % in overnight stays, top 2 Austria with +47 % and top 3 Switzerland with +46 %. "We have brought back our foreign source markets with a large package of measures consisting of on-site presentations, online and out-of-home campaigns and close contact with our business partners such as tour operators and the media," says Corinne Miseer, Managing Director of Dresden Marketing GmbH (DMG).  

DMG and its Dresden Convention Service have aggressively promoted the acquisition of congresses, meetings and incentives, for example with the new website dresden-convention.com and, for the first time, its own national convention campaign - with success, as the current balance sheet shows. Around 8,800 events took place in the Saxon state capital in the first half of the year, 80% more than in the same period last year, with 762,000 participants and thus 124% more than in the first half of 2022.  

Travellers from Germany give Dresden top marks in many areas, as the latest "Magic Cities City Travel Monitor" from June 2023 shows. According to the survey, visitors to Dresden are the most satisfied guests in a comparison of major German cities and give Dresden the highest approval ratings for attractiveness (87%), good service (71%) and a feeling of safety (61%). However, the survey also shows that Dresden is hardly ever associated with activities such as events, e.g. musicals, and major events, e.g. in sport, and achieves the lowest approval rating of all Magic Cities. "Anyone who has been to Dresden Elbland once is enthusiastic, comes back and recommends us to others. However, in order to realise the potential of our strong brand, we need additional events throughout the year that meet current demand and attract tourists from Germany and abroad," says Miseer. 

Sebastian Klink, General Manager Bilderberg Bellevue Hotel Dresden and 1st Deputy Chairman of Tourismusverband Dresden e.V., confirms that Dresden Elbland is in high demand when the offer is right. Mega-concerts and the Striezelmarkt are ensuring very good capacity utilisation in the sector. In fact, given the current cost structure, regular very high capacity utilisation is also fundamental to safeguarding tourism businesses. The aim is therefore to create strong highlights several times a year. Another strategic focus must continue to be the strengthening of the congress location. The number and size of conferences and congresses can still be increased in Dresden. The now established acquisition activities of DMG's Dresden Convention Services significantly increase the external impact. The financing and strengthening of this strategic measure must be secured." 

With the celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich's birth, Dresden will be the venue for the Dresden Convention Service. Dresden Elbland will play a special role in the celebrations for Caspar David Friedrich's 250th birthday, as the great Romantic painter lived in Dresden for over 40 years until his death in 1840. The DMG and many other stakeholders are utilising the great tourism potential to attract tourists in 2024 and beyond. "Here, old and new fans of Caspar David Friedrich can visit authentic places that still bear witness to the famous painter today. What's more, the Romantic era comes to life here, which is why we are working with the slogan 'Dresden Elbland. Experience the real spots of Romanticism'," explains Miseer. DMG is already realising that the approach is working and that the supposedly niche topic is attracting a wider public. The response from the media has been enormous and the Caspar David Friedrich spots in Dresden Elbland are reporting increased interest  

The DMG is convinced that the citizens of Dresden are not only generally excellent hosts for tourists, but also want to and will celebrate "their CDF". There will also be an opportunity to do so on the actual birthday, 5 September 2024, when the aim of a city bet with Greifswald is to gather as many people as possible in historical dress on Neumarkt. More information about the bet, the stakes and the exact rules will be published in the coming weeks. Follow in the footsteps of Caspar David Friedrich, join in the celebrations and support our city bet with Greifswald.

Even in 2024, Dresden's wide-ranging cultural offerings cannot be summarised in a single bracket. The Mayor of Tourism is therefore keen to announce a series of events that will reintroduce the city's most famous "little boy", Erich Kästner. The series in honour of the controversial writer, publicist, screenwriter and poet will start on his 125th birthday on 23 February 2024. "The anniversaries of Caspar David Friedrich and Erich Kästner are wonderful occasions for tourists from Germany and abroad to rediscover Dresden as a city of fine arts, literature and music, including at the Semper Opera House, the Kulturpalast and Kraftwerk Mitte," said the mayor.  

On a total of nine days between the end of March and the end of April 2024, the residents of Dresden Elbland will have the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the tourism industry, which is so important for the region. In 2023, a "Experience your region" campaign day was already successfully organised together with the tourist information offices in the Elbland region. Sindy Vogel, Managing Director of Tourismusverband Elbland Dresden e.V., is now delighted that Dresden and other Elbland locations will be added in 2024, making the programme even more diverse.

You can find everything about Caspar David Friedrich in Dresden Elbland here: 250 years of Caspar David Friedrich