The Saxon government wants to attract more camping fans and praises the Free State as an insider tip for individual travelers. "I am delighted about every camping and motorhome guest in Saxony and can assure them that there is a lot to discover here," Tourism Minister Barbara Klepsch (CDU) told the German Press Agency. Camping and motorhome trips would become increasingly important.
Number of guests at campsites increased
A third of guests travel to Upper Lusatia and Saxon Switzerland, according to the minister. In 2024, 1.08 million overnight stays were counted at campsites. This corresponds to an increase of 28 percent compared to 2019. "We are on the right track," emphasized Klepsch.
Important prerequisites are a high level of quality with modern infrastructure and appropriate facilities. This is why motorhome and caravan tourism has been anchored in the tourism master plan for Saxony.
Less camping in Saxony than nationwide
According to the tourism industry, the proportion of overnight stays at campsites in Saxony was recently 5.4 percent of all overnight stays. Across Germany, the figure is 8.6 percent. Eight percent of campers in Saxony come from abroad, around half of them from the Netherlands.
The ministry is optimistic. "Camping in Saxony is not yet as important as it is nationwide, but the growth in 2024 was greater than in Germany as a whole. So we are catching up." According to Klepsch, the camping, caravanning and motorhome market segment is growing.
"We are also currently in the process of significantly advancing cycling tourism in Saxony." The aim is to build new mountain bike trails and to modernize and expand existing routes. There are good starting points for active tourism here.
Association takes a mixed view of development
The assessment of the Central German Association of the Camping and Motorhome Industry is mixed. "There is no reason to moan, but there is also no reason to jump for joy. In an industry that is heavily dependent on the weather, there are always ups and downs," said Jens W. Bohge, head of the association. Expectations for the current season are not very high.
Since Easter was only at the end of April, there was practically a whole month missing. "Last year, Easter was at the end of March. We had excellent weather and the good weather continued in April. We don't have any of that this year. The weather is still changeable. The nights are still cold," emphasized Bohge.
The price trend is also problematic. "In the last three years, costs have been flying around our ears - energy costs, food prices, salaries."
Saxony has everything but the sea
The head of the association believes that exaggerated expectations are counterproductive. "We are here in central Germany. We are not the Adriatic or the Baltic Sea," said Bohge. Saxony has a lot to offer. "We have lakes, mountains and an incredible amount of culture. We have cycle paths and lots of beautiful places where you can retreat in peace and quiet. The only thing we don't have is a sea." That's why you can't compare yourself with the industry on the Baltic Sea.
Bohge also sees a problem in the dilapidated infrastructure and the roadworks on the Autobahn 4, for example. If you're a camper who wants to make a quick weekend trip to the Lusatian Lakeland, think carefully about whether you want to be stuck in a traffic jam for two hours on the outward and return journey.
According to the association, there are around 100 campsites and 150 pitches for motorhomes in Saxony. Some are run purely as family businesses.
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