Tourism is a key economic and locational factor in Saxony-Anhalt. With billions in revenue, value added of nearly 1.7 billion euros, and significant tax revenues, the industry contributes significantly to the state’s economic development and attractiveness.
This is demonstrated by the latest edition of the study “Tourism as an Economic Factor for the State of Saxony-Anhalt 2025,” which was prepared by the tourism consulting firm dwif-Consulting GmbH on behalf of the East German Savings Banks Association (OSV). It will be presented today as part of the Saxony-Anhalt Tourism Day 2026 in Dessau-Roßlau. This year’s Tourism Day is organized by the OSV, the Investment and Marketing Company of Saxony-Anhalt mbH (IMG), and the Saxony-Anhalt Tourism Association e.V. (LTV), with support from the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation. Its motto, “The Saxony-Anhalt Travel Destination Check: Are We Making the Most of Our Assets?” is inspired by the motto of the Bauhaus anniversary, “To the Essence: Bauhaus Dessau 100.”
According to the study’s findings, visitors generated gross tourism revenue of 3.58 billion euros in 2025. A total of approximately 97.1 million tourist overnight stays were recorded in the state. As a result, tourism in Saxony-Anhalt remained economically stable and saw a slight increase in demand, gross revenue, and income effects compared to 2023. Given the difficult geopolitical and economic conditions, this should be viewed as a positive sign.
Michael Richter, Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of Saxony-Anhalt: “The results make it clear that the industry has maintained its relevance even amid the difficult conditions of recent years, and that tourism remains a key economic factor for the state. Many incredibly dedicated hosts and hostesses, as well as many supporters of our tourism industry, contribute to this success. And their events, recreational offerings, tourist facilities—as well as cafés and restaurants—benefit more than just our guests. Tourism enhances the quality of life and the experience of visiting our state. I would like to express my gratitude for this. That is why it is the shared goal of politics, business, and the tourism sector to continue developing Saxony-Anhalt as a travel destination.”
Tourism revenue is distributed across numerous economic sectors. The hospitality industry benefits the most, with around 1.7 billion euros, followed by retail with just under 1.1 billion euros, and services with around 777 million euros. State Secretary for Tourism Stefanie Pötzsch: “Tourism creates local economic value, secures incomes, and strengthens our cities and communities, particularly in rural areas. The study makes it clear that investments in tourism infrastructure and marketing contribute directly to our state’s economic development. The tourism industry sustains jobs in the region and offers young people here opportunities for vocational training and higher education. Furthermore, whether it’s retail, skilled trades, culture, or services—tourism is present in all sectors.”
Day trips remain particularly significant for Saxony-Anhalt. With approximately 1.95 billion euros, day trips generate more than half of all tourism revenue. Added to this is revenue from commercial overnight stays, camping, vacation homes, and visits to relatives and acquaintances. Ludger Weskamp, President of the East German Savings Banks Association (OSV), explains: “For Saxony-Anhalt, the tourism and leisure industry is more than just an economic factor that can be measured in terms of jobs and tax revenue. Tourism enhances quality of life through investments in infrastructure that also benefit local residents. The savings banks support these investments.” In 2025, the twelve savings banks in Saxony-Anhalt committed 2.6 billion euros in new loans, an increase of 11.1 percent over the previous year. The total loan portfolio rose to 17.2 billion euros.
LTV Managing Director Martin Schulze explains: “The study confirms the successful work of the state’s tourism stakeholders. Tourism has a far-reaching impact on other industries and creates opportunities for businesses, employees, and municipalities. It remains crucial to continuously improve the quality of offerings and strengthen Saxony-Anhalt’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.”
Dr. Robert Franke, Managing Director of IMG, further describes how attractive the state is for tourism investments: “Saxony-Anhalt offers an exceptional mix of attractive development sites, historic buildings, and growing tourism demand. This is demonstrated by projects such as the tourism development at Geiseltalsee, the revitalization of the Old Castle in Tangerhütte, the investments in Alexisbad, and the establishment of Karls Erlebnis-Dorf in Wernigerode. These projects are representative of a positive trend: tourism investments create new offerings for visitors, strengthen regional economic cycles, and enhance the appeal of our cities and regions as places to live and work.”
Key figures at a glance:
97.1 million tourist overnight stays
3.58 billion euros in gross tourism revenue
1.70 billion euros in tourism value added
54,186 full-time equivalent jobs
67,005 income equivalents
333 million euros in tax revenue from value-added tax and income tax
1,699 million euros in revenue from the hospitality industry
1,100 million euros in retail sales
777 million euros in revenue in the service sector