The youth hostel market - Germany

1.1 Scope of the study

Youth hostels are special types of accommodation that date back to the beginning of the 20th century. The first youth hostel is said to have been founded in Germany in 1912 by Richard Schirrmann, who initially converted free school classes into rooms with bunk beds.

Some features include a common room and affordable prices. However, as lifestyles and travel habits have fundamentally changed over time, youth hostels have adapted to the ever-changing demand. In Europe, and especially in Germany, youth hostels today represent an alternative accommodation type to short-term rentals (e.g. Airbnb) or typical hotels with numerous features such as private rooms, social events, additional services (e.g. swimming pool, coffee lounge) or extravagant amenities.

The number of overnight stays in German youth hostels between 2010 and 2022 fluctuated greatly. In 2022, 8.6 million overnight stays were recorded, which represents an increase compared to previous years , but it also represents a decrease compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic, when the figure in 2019 was 9.8 million overnight stays. [German Youth Hostel Association]

Youth hostels in Germany have suffered considerable losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. In June 2020, they recorded a year-on-year decline of 82.8% in guest arrivals. A total of around 164,000 guests were counted. The measures to contain the virus have hit businesses hard, with school and study trips in particular remaining suspended beyond 2020. In April 2020, only 502 businesses were open and guest arrivals were only 1% of the previous year's level. Since then, the situation has gradually recovered. [Federal Statistical Office]