Tourist numbers are on the rise: an opportunity and a challenge

Potsdam welcomed many national and international guests this summer. The figures clearly show that Potsdam's tourism industry is booming again after the Covid crisis. With an average trip lasting 2.5 days (vs. 2.4 in 2019), tourists are staying longer than they used to.

Potsdam Marketing and Service GmbH, the company in charge of the city's tourism marketing, is pleased with this development. Not all holiday destinations are as thrilled about the influx of tourists. The Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and cities such as Venice and Amsterdam have long been struggling with what is known as "overtourism". Although tourism is an important economic factor for many destinations, more and more people have been staging protests in the more highly affected regions. Mass tourism is having a significant impact on daily life there. None of this applies in Potsdam. It is a very pleasant city for locals.

To ensure it stays this way, PMSG continuously monitors trends in the travel industry and regularly exchanges ideas with tourism partners. In Potsdam too, the acceptance of tourism by locals is an important topic within the travel sector.

"A well-thought-out visitor management system is key. It's the only way to make tourism sustainable and acceptable," explains Anne Robertshaw. The tourism expert recently joined the company's management.

"Communication with our partners in the tourism industry is essential to our work," she goes on. This was also one of the reasons for setting up the “Tourismusbereit” (Tourism Advisory Board) in July 2023. In addition to this association of key representatives from the tourism industry, PMSG offers further networking opportunities. First in line is the annual Tourism Day, which will be held on 10 October 2024 this year. This time, the conference will focus on Potsdam as an important MICE location (MICE=meetings/incentives/conventions/events) and a venue for "green" meetings, i.e. events with the smallest possible ecological footprint. The theme will be: one day, two topics, two locations and one big award. This will be the opportunity for Potsdam to receive its certification as a sustainable destination.

"We want to raise awareness of our city's potential. An island in the middle of the Havel lake district and a very green city to boot, Potsdam is not only attractive to its residents and guests, it also offers companies ideal conditions for events and conferences," says Anne Robertshaw.