After the recently published half-year figures for tourism in Saxony, the industry has called for relief. "The desire to travel is unbroken, but the economic situation of businesses remains tense," said the President of the State Tourism Association (LTV), Stephan Meyer. Among other things, a return to the reduced VAT rate of seven percent in the hospitality industry, less bureaucracy and investments in year-round tourism are needed.
From January to June, around 3.63 million guests came to Saxony, 2.6 percent fewer than in the same period last year. One reason for this is the special effect of the 2024 European Football Championship, which attracted many foreign visitors to the Free State. Chemnitz, on the other hand, stood out positively: the European Capital of Culture 2025 and the surrounding region recorded significant growth, in some cases in the double-digit range.
Tourism Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) spoke of a clear signal: "The half-year results show how strongly culture acts as a driver for tourism." Chemnitz and the entire region benefited enormously from the title of European Capital of Culture 2025.
