Overnight stays in the Hanover region exceed 4 million for the first time

Tourism in the Hanover region reached an all-time high in 2017! With 4,012,127 guest overnight stays between January and December, the Hanover region surpassed 4 million overnight stays for the first time, marking an increase of 120,916 overnight stays compared to the previous year. With 2,280,015 overnight stays, the capital of Lower Saxony also surpassed last year’s record figures by another 39,669 overnight stays.

In percentage terms, this means that for 2017, the State Statistical Office recorded an overall increase of 3.1 percent compared to the previous year for the 21 cities and municipalities in the Hanover region. The state capital saw an increase of 1.8 percent.

“Hanover is steadily growing as a destination for city travelers. Our city is attracting more and more visitors with its dining and shopping options, while wowing them with cultural and sporting events. And Hannover makes people want to take weekend trips thanks to its diverse events in a city where a particularly large number of young people now gather. Hannover is worth more than just a quick visit. The rising tourism figures prove that,” says Mayor Stefan Schostok.

Also noteworthy is the long-term increase in the number of overnight stays: For example, in 1999, Hanover recorded approximately 1.1 million overnight stays, while the Hanover region recorded approximately 2.2 million. In the year of the EXPO, overnight stays in the region rose to 3.5 million. This figure was surpassed again for the first time in 2011. In the years that followed, overnight stays in the region continued to rise steadily until today.

“The Hannover region, with all its treasures—such as the Herrenhausen Gardens, Landestrost Castle, and Marienburg Castle, as well as the Deister and Lake Steinhude—has a lot to offer. Everyone who calls this place home knows that. It’s wonderful that more and more people both in and outside Germany are recognizing these qualities and have discovered Hannover and its surrounding area as an attractive travel destination,” says Regional President Hauke Jagau.

It is clear that, in addition to trade show visitors, the number of corporate events, conferences, and conventions—as well as the number of leisure travelers—in the Hanover region has risen significantly. The large number of new hotel construction projects and restaurant developments in Hanover reflects the city’s positive growth. Project developers and investors in the tourism industry are confident that Hanover will continue to thrive as a hub for business, trade shows, and conventions. “Tourism is thus strengthening its position as one of the most important economic factors in the Hanover region,” said Hans Christian Nolte, Managing Director of Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH.

For more information about the Hannover region, visit www.visit-hannover.com.