Kamenz (dpa/sn) - The corona pandemic has left clear traces in the Saxon tourism industry. According to calculations by the State Statistical Office, there were still around 61,700 employees with compulsory social security contributions in mid-2021. Based on the same point in time last year, that was 3.4 percent less, the authority announced on Tuesday in Kamenz. In the overall economy, on the other hand, the number rose by 0.9 percent.
The year before, the number of employees in the tourism industry had fallen by 2.5 percent, while in the economy as a whole it was only 0.5 percent less. The reference date for the calculation is always June 30 of each year. The State Statistical Office pointed to the operating restrictions and bans for large parts of the hotel and catering industry as a result of the pandemic as the reason for the renewed decline.
In the accommodation industry, the number of employees in the middle of 2021 compared to 2020 fell by 7.2 percent to 12,500 people, it said. The decline in gastronomy was less pronounced - by 3.0 percent to 12,700 employees. The traffic and transportation, travel agencies and tour operators, culture, sports and recreation and retail sectors are also included proportionately in the employment statistics.
