Frankfurt, May 20, (dpa/GNA) – Germany’s hospitality sector was badly hit in the first quarter, with turnover at hotels, restaurants and cafes diving more than 60 per cent on the year.
The Federal Statistical Office reported on Thursday that, while March had shown improvement, turnover for the quarter corrected for price changes was down 62.2 per cent compared with the first quarter of last year.
Hotels and guesthouses were particularly badly hit, seeing their business collapse by 77.2 per cent. The effects here continued into March when overnight stays for tourist purposes continued to be banned.
Turnover recovered slightly between February and March, with the sector posting a plus of 4.5 per cent in both real and nominal terms on the month.
On the year, the March figure was down 40 per cent, even though the pandemic effects were already beginning to be felt in the same month last year.
Comparing March this year with February last – the month before the pandemic struck Germany – reveals a fall of almost 67 per cent.
GNA