According to the German Youth Hostel Association (DJH), the pandemic lull in youth hostels in Germany has been overcome thanks to a significant increase in the number of overnight stays. Above all, the “comeback of school trips” contributed to a positive development in 2022, the DJH in Bielefeld reported. However, inflation and the energy crisis presented new challenges, said CEO Oliver Peters.
Good pre-booking status
Overall, the DJH counted almost 8.6 million overnight stays last year – more than twice as many as in the previous crisis year with only 3.9 million overnight stays. “This means that for the first time we have almost reached the pre-pandemic level again,” emphasized Peters. And this despite the fact that corona restrictions in the area of travel and accommodation applied until spring 2022. For 2023, a very good pre-booking status gives reason for optimism. There are only a few resignations from the club, but many new memberships. As of the end of 2022, there were a good 2.3 million members.
The nationwide return of schoolchildren had a positive impact. Around 3.6 million overnight stays from schools were counted in 2022 – almost 2.7 million more than in 2021, when there were only 910,000 overnight stays. Schools and colleges are the most important groups of guests, followed by families.
Need to catch up on school trips
The state associations of Rhineland and Westphalia-Lippe also reported a positive trend in the most populous federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. An enormous need to catch up on school trips led to significant growth in 2022 – and to even higher numbers of overnight stays than before the 2019 pandemic.
Young people in particular were often left behind in the course of the pandemic-related restrictions and now urgently need the chance to develop socially and personally in a safe space, Peters warned. School trips are therefore more important than ever and must be available to all children.
The DJH sees itself as an important player for the common good and civil society, emphasized the general manager. Many children and young people continue to be mentally stressed after the corona restrictions. There are also fears of war, inflation and the climate crisis. The non-profit association is working to improve the situation with its own offers and by participating in joint initiatives.
Federal grants help
The youth hostels have been able to offer almost 200 holiday camps with a good 35,000 participant days since the summer of 2021 through the “Catching up after Corona” program alone with the help of federal funding. In addition, in almost 40 particularly suitable DJH houses for several thousand families, “Corona breaks” accompanied by leisure-time education have been set up. Among his own offers, Peters mentioned sports or nutrition programs, anti-bullying or outdoor training.
The Corona crisis has just been overcome – and the rising prices for food and energy, for example, are proving to be new challenges, the association said. Although the DJH does not work for profit, it cannot completely avoid small price increases. However, membership fees should not increase. According to the association, a good 66,800 beds are currently available in 408 youth hostels.
