What is the booking situation for 2024?

Regular guests unwanted? Trend towards long-distance travel? We provide insights into the booking situation for 2024

There are currently more than 2,700 farms from Austria, Germany, Italy and Switzerland on our platform. We use numerous search filters to make it easier to find the perfect holiday farm. Farm holidays are still very popular, but how do hosts deal with regular guests and how do changes on the farm and price increases affect the booking situation? To answer these questions, we surveyed various farms and evaluated online data.

Changes on the farm: A key to guest satisfaction

Theresia from Ferienhof Landerleben in Egg/Vorarlberg , emphasizes the importance of continuous changes on her farm : " Times are fast-moving. You have to stay on the ball in order not to become a 'legacy'. Whether it's the new decoration in the apartment or larger ones Innovations are - guests appreciate this and it motivates us to keep creating new things ."

Friedrich from Ferienhof Hohe in Hiltpoltstein/Bavaria also shares this attitude : " Changes are valued by our guests, and price increases are okay as long as they are justified by improvements. " Friedrich gives a positive outlook on the booking situation: " In the last two years "We were able to record 5% more bookings in each case. For 2024 we have 13% bookings so far, but it is too early to make final forecasts ."

Lena from the Braun organic farm in Hohentauern/Styria emphasizes the closeness to her regular guests : " They bring in their own ideas and wishes, which we try to implement. Through ongoing innovations and discussions with our guests, they also understand price adjustments, especially when they see that we invest in our farm. "

But not all holiday farms share this experience. Kathrin from the Tofererhof in Bad Hofgastein/Salzburg points out: " Price increases don't go down well with our regular guests. " Nevertheless, the constant changes at the farm are a plus point here too. “ Every change, no matter how small, is noticed and appreciated, ” says Kathrin.

Particularly interesting for farm holidaymakers: driving a tractor, feeding animals, collecting eggs and taking part in the hay harvest.

Managing director Roland Bamberger currently sees a trend towards cheaper, nature-based holidays with shorter journeys. “ Farms in particular could benefit from this ,” he emphasizes . “Holidays on the farm are ideal for discovering the beauties of nature or experiencing work on the farm up close. ” An analysis of the search queries on bauernhofurlaub.info confirms this. The first priority is active participation on the farm . Driving a tractor , feeding and caring for animals , collecting chicken eggs and helping with the hay, fruit and vegetable harvest are the most popular activities.

Booking situation in 2024 and the trend towards long-distance travel

Regarding the trend towards long-distance travel, it is clear that this is not yet noticeable at all farms. Theresia from Ferienhof Landerleben reports with a smile: " Fortunately, I have only read about this trend so far. " Most farm holiday providers have not yet experienced any significant losses due to increased long-distance travel.

However, what many holiday farms notice is the tendency towards shorter stays. Many guests now come for 1 week instead of 2 weeks, and 3 - 5 nights instead of one week. This could be an indication of changing travel habits, which are influenced by various factors such as lack of time, the economic situation or the desire for more varied holiday experiences .

Our conclusion is...

In the last three years of the pandemic, farms have seen a notable increase in their bookings , indicating a noticeable recovery. But despite this positive development, the question remains whether this trend will continue. Interestingly, the increased trend for long-distance travel has not yet reached farms. Currently, guests tend to book shorter stays on the farms. The future of this trend remains uncertain and will show whether the encouraging upward trend in farm holidays will continue in the coming years.

Whether as a regular guest or a first-time visitor, the farm holiday remains an attractive option for travelers looking for nature, relaxation and authenticity. And so we can be excited to see how the industry will develop in the coming years. It seems certain that farms will continue to be a popular destination for an unforgettable holiday. We at bauernhofurlaub.info will of course continue to keep you up to date.