The Luxembourg City Tourist Office (LCTO) deems the season to have opened smoothly despite heavy rainfall in late July and the cooler, unsettled weather at the beginning of the school holidays.
Edgar Janssen of the LCTO explained that from the start of the summer, staff noticed a steady flow of individual travellers, tour groups and families from all over the world. Visitors have not been deterred by the weather, coming prepared with the right clothing or simply opting for indoor activities when needed.
Janssen explained that to keep up with demand, the LCTO is continuously reviewing and adapting its offer. He noted that the team regularly evaluates visitor feedback and looks for ways to improve experiences, including updating guided tours with new themes and information about the city. This is part of an ongoing effort to maintain high quality and meet tourist expectations, he said.
Alongside the popular palace tours in August, the LUGA horticultural event remains a major draw. Janssen noted that the LCTO regularly receives enquiries about the exhibition route and that, despite being primarily outdoors, it also offers a range of indoor, weather-proof activities.
Upgrades to the Pétrusse Casemates have also had a significant impact. Previously, visitor numbers were limited to small groups of 15 people, four times a day. The new system allows for groups of 30 every 15 minutes, resulting in a summer capacity of 780 tickets, with an occupancy rate of over 40% so far. In July alone, the LCTO recorded around 8,500 visitors to the Pétrusse Casemates and 31,000 to the Bock Casemates. Opening hours will be extended in August, from 10am to 7pm.
Overall tourism in the capital is showing steady growth, with Janssen reporting single-digit percentage increases across activities, which Janssen describes as a “healthy” growth rate that allows the LCTO to match services to demand without compromising quality. Exclusive outdoor guided tours and those in the Grand Ducal Palace are proving particularly popular, with the organisation now offering tours in up to 20 languages.
Since 1 August, 55 newly trained guides have joined the team following their certification earlier this year. For the 26th consecutive year, the LCTO is also deploying student helpers to offer orientation support to visitors.
The positive mid-season results suggest that, even with changeable summer weather, Luxembourg City’s tourism sector continues to thrive.
