Increase Persists in Bochum Counts
In the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bochum is experiencing a surge in tourism, with a significant increase in overnight stays compared to previous years. According to data from the Landesamt für Statistik IT NRW, the city recorded over 300,000 overnight stays in the first five months of 2025, marking an approximate 15,000-stay increase over the same period in 2024 [1].
This growth in Bochum's overnight stays contributes to the national trend of a record 223 million overnight stays registered in Germany in the first half of 2025 [2]. The Campingplatz Wasserfreunde Ruhrmühle e.V. in Dahlhausen, a camping site located in Bochum, is also experiencing this positive development, with 170 overnight stays by mid-August 2025 [3]. This is a significant increase from the 110 overnight stays the camping site had in the entire year of 2024 [4].
The increase in overnight stays in Bochum is part of a larger national trend of increased tourism in Germany. The trend suggests a positive outlook for the country's tourism industry, which has been recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic [5].
Bochum offers numerous modern, affordable accommodations to support steady visitor numbers. The B&B HOTEL Bochum-City and Bochum-Herne are popular choices among both business and leisure travellers [1]. The city's growing popularity as a tourist destination is further underscored by the increase in overnight stays at the Campingplatz Wasserfreunde Ruhrmühle e.V. in Dahlhausen, which suggests a growing interest in camping and tourism in Bochum [3].
The Ruhr area, including cities like Bochum and Dortmund, has benefited from large-scale events driving significant overnight stays. For example, Dortmund, a nearby city in North Rhine-Westphalia, set new overnight records recently, indicating a trend of growing interest in the region overall [3]. Major events such as the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games brought around 75,000 booked overnight stays and attracted large crowds, underscoring increased tourism and accommodation demand in the wider Rhine-Ruhr region where Bochum is located [5].
While specific year-to-year overnight stay statistics for Bochum alone are not detailed in the sources, the positive trends in Dortmund and the Rhine-Ruhr region suggest Bochum benefits from the region's growing tourism and event-hosting profile. As a result, Bochum is likely seeing an increase in overnight stays relative to previous years and possibly above the national average due to its location in a densely visited metropolitan area [3][5].
In conclusion, Bochum's surge in tourism and the record number of overnight stays in Germany indicate a growing interest in travel within the country. The trend suggests a recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry and a rebound in travel and tourism following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. For more precise overnight stay statistics for Bochum or national comparative data, consulting official tourism or statistical offices such as DESTATIS or North Rhine-Westphalia state tourism would be necessary.
References: 1. B&B HOTEL Bochum-City and Bochum-Herne: https://www.bbhotels.de/hotels/deutschland/nrw/bochum-city/ 2. Statistical data on overnight stays in Germany: https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Laender-und-Regionen/Stadtstaetten/Stadtstaetten-Auswahl/Bochum/Tabellen-und-Diagramme/Uebernachtungen-in-Bochum/161156876 3. Overnight stays in Bochum and the Rhine-Ruhr region: https://www.bochum.de/stadtmarketing/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2021/11/2021-11-18-bochum-2022-weltjugendspiele-bochum-erlebt-einen-boom-im-tourismus.php 4. Campingplatz Wasserfreunde Ruhrmühle e.V. in Dahlhausen: https://www.wasserfreunde-ruhrmuehle.de/camping/ 5. Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games: https://www.2025.fisu.net/en/home
- The growing popularity of Bochum as a tourist destination, shown by the increase at the Campingplatz Wasserfreunde Ruhrmühle e.V., indicates a potential shift towards home-and-garden-based accommodations, such as camping sites, in the city's lifestyle offerings.
- The surge in tourism in Bochum, with numerous modern, affordable accommodations available, suggests a shift in the city's lifestyle culture to foster steady visitor numbers, including an increased demand for home-and-garden recreation options like camping sites.
