Overview

• Saxony’s new budget includes an €11 per day subsidy per person for low-income families staying in domestic family recreation sites, welfare-run camps and youth hostels.
• Only 11 of Germany’s 16 states offer similar vacation subsidies, contributing to uneven regional support.
• Hundreds of thousands of eligible families have not claimed subsidies, with low uptake linked to limited awareness and restricted capacity at subsidized facilities.
• A June 2025 SoVD survey found that half of employed Germans must reduce holiday spending and a third cannot afford any vacation, highlighting growing social disparities.
• Policymakers and experts are calling for broader federal relief measures and considering a vacation price cap to curb seasonal rate hikes and boost social inclusion.