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Basel Tourism Sees Longer Stays, Higher Occupancy Despite Fewer Arrivals in 2025
Published: December 21, 2025 · Period: 2025-05-01 – 2025-05-31In May 2025, Basel saw a slight decline in tourist arrivals but experienced an increase in overnight stays and hotel occupancy, indicating longer stays and a preference for higher-category accommodations. Swiss visitors accounted for the largest share of overnight stays, followed by tourists from Germany and the United States, with a notable rise in interest from American tourists.
In May 2025, Basel experienced a slight decrease in tourism activity compared to previous years. The total number of arrivals was 143,342, which is a decrease from 151,064 in 2024 and 145,536 in 2023. Despite this, overnight stays increased to 301,708, up from 278,356 in 2024 and 263,438 in 2023, indicating longer stays by visitors. The hotel occupancy rate was 70.3%, a notable increase from 60.9% in 2024 and 58.2% in 2023, suggesting better utilization of available rooms.
The 4- and 5-star hotels accounted for the majority of overnight stays with 165,438, followed by 3-star hotels with 121,776. Lower-category hotels had significantly fewer stays, with 1- and 2-star hotels recording 45,604 overnight stays. This distribution highlights a preference for higher-category accommodations among visitors.
The Swiss contributed the most to overnight stays, with 121,742, making up 40.4% of the total. Germany and the United States followed, with 36,492 and 26,246 overnight stays, respectively. Notably, the share of overnight stays from the United States increased, reflecting a growing interest from American tourists. Other significant contributors included the UK and France, though their shares were relatively smaller.
The data does not indicate any major seasonal effects or special events impacting tourism for this month. However, the overall increase in overnight stays and hotel occupancy suggests a positive trend in visitor engagement, even as the total number of arrivals slightly declined. This could be attributed to a shift in visitor behavior, with tourists opting for longer stays and more premium accommodations.
Table 1: Overnight Stays by Country of Origin in May 2025
| Country of Origin | Arrivals | Overnight Stays | Share of Total (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schweiz | 62,156 | 121,742 | 40.4 % |
| Deutschland | 19,202 | 36,492 | 12.1 % |
| Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika | 13,184 | 26,246 | 8.7 % |
| Grossbritannien | 7,890 | 16,958 | 5.6 % |
| Frankreich | 5,032 | 8,800 | 2.9 % |
| Other | 35,878 | 91,470 | 30.3 % |
| Total | 143,342 | 301,708 | 100.0 % |
Table 2: Overnight Arrivals and Overnight Stays in May 2025
| Category | Arrivals | Overnight Stays | Share of Total (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4- und 5-Stern | 78,336 | 165,438 | 42.2 % |
| 3-Stern | 54,550 | 121,776 | 31.1 % |
| Keine Kategorie | 28,381 | 58,873 | 15.0 % |
| 1- und 2-Stern | 22,668 | 45,604 | 11.6 % |
| Total | 183,935 | 391,691 | 100.0 % |
Table 3: Arrivals and Overnight Stays in May by Year
| Year | Arrivals | Overnight Stays | Avg Daily Overnight Stays | Occupancy Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 143,342 | 301,708 | 9,732.5 | 70.3 % |
| 2024 | 151,064 | 278,356 | 8,979.2 | 60.9 % |
| 2023 | 145,536 | 263,438 | 8,498.0 | 58.2 % |
Figure 1: Overnight Stays by Origin of Visitors in the last 24 Months
Additional resources: Tourismusstatistik 2024
🤖 This text was generated with the assistance of AI. All quantitative statements are derived directly from the dataset listed under Data Source.