Hannover Marketing and Tourismus GmbH

Hannover broke all records: more visitors stayed overnight than ever before

In 2011, more than 2.1 million visitors stayed overnight in the capital of Lower Saxony, an increase of 9.3 percent compared to 2010. For the first time, this figure is even higher than in 2000, when the city hosted the World’s Fair. The number of overnight stays in the entire Hanover region also reached a record high.

Aerial View of Hanover — Download for editorial use: Image in print-ready resolution (300 dpi)
Copyright: HMTG / Martin Kirchner

Hanover Breaks the World’s Fair Record: Tourism in Hanover reached its highest levels in 2011. Between January and December, 2.106 million visitors stayed overnight in the city, breaking Hanover’s previous record—set during Expo 2000 (2.030 million overnight stays)—for the first time. In 2011, the Lower Saxony Department of Statistical and Communication Technologies recorded an increase of 179,669 overnight stays compared to the previous year, representing a 9.3% rise. Neither Hamburg, Munich, nor Berlin could boast such high growth rates. The long-term trend is also extremely impressive: compared to 1999, when approximately 1.1 million visitors spent the night in Hanover, that figure had nearly doubled twelve years later.

“This record figure proves that Hanover has become an increasingly attractive destination for visitors in recent years. The city hosts numerous world-class events: the Maschsee Lake Festival, the International Fireworks Competition, Made in Germany Zwei, and the TUI Marathon, to name just a few. “Word has spread that Hanover is well worth a visit, and we are determined to build on this positive trend,” announced Mayor Stephan Weil.

"These figures represent a tremendous success," said Hans Christian Nolte, Managing Director of Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG). These record-breaking figures are attributable to a very successful year for trade shows and exhibitions, as well as to the positive trend observed in the private tourism sector.

For more information, please visit the website http://www.visit-hannover.com

Photos are available for download at: www.visit-hannover.com/en/press

Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH
Vahrenwalder Strasse 7
D-30165 Hanover
http://www.hannover.de
presse@hannover-marketing.deTél. : +49-511-12-34-90-13
Fax : +49-511-12-34-90-10