Saxony Is Attracting More Tourists: Strong Growth in Camping

As of the end of May this year, Saxony has attracted more tourists than during the same period last year. “Saxony’s tourism figures for the first five months of 2026 show a positive and stable upward trend,” said Tourism Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) in response to an inquiry. According to current statistics, from January through May, there were 2.1 million guest arrivals—a 3.4 percent increase—and 5.1 million overnight stays—a 2.0 percent increase.

Camping as a Growth Driver

Growth was particularly strong in the camping sector—a real growth driver, according to Klepsch. With 274,100 overnight stays and a 13.4 percent increase, the segment got off to an excellent start to the outdoor season, the minister said.

Upper Lusatia, Saxon Switzerland, the Ore Mountains, Dresden, and Leipzig benefited from the growth, recording more overnight stays. The Elbe Region and the Vogtland, on the other hand, saw a slight decline. In the Chemnitz-Zwickau region, overnight stays declined by about 10 percent. This development was to be expected following the Capital of Culture year, as Klepsch noted.

Conference League Sparks Boom in British Tourists

Saxony is particularly popular among German tourists. About 90 percent of overnight guests came from within Germany. Most foreign guests came from Germany’s neighboring countries: Poland (39,100 arrivals), Austria (23,800), and the Czech Republic (20,400). 

According to the ministry, there was a veritable boom in tourists from the United Kingdom for the Conference League soccer final in Leipzig. In May, the London club Crystal Palace played against Rayo Vallecano from Madrid there. In that month alone, 10,400 British visitors came to Saxony—more than twice as many as a year earlier. The match impressively demonstrated the leverage that major sporting events have on tourism, according to Klepsch.