Press release: Germany’s inbound tourism with growth opportunities for 2025

Positive balance in 2024 with 85,3 million overnight stays - GNTB forecasts indicate a seven per cent increase in international overnight stays, reaching 91 million by 2025 - Safety aspects, world-famous tourist landmarks and a high-quality level of tourism infrastructure influence destination decisions by guests from overseas

Frankfurt am Main, 11 February 2025 - Germany's inbound tourism continued to grow in 2024. Despite numerous challenges in many source markets, preliminary figures provided by the Federal Statistical Office show that 85,3 million international overnight stays were registered by the end of December - an increase of 5,4 per cent compared to the previous year. According to its current forecast, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) expects around 91 million overnight stays by foreign guests in 2025.

The GNTB's estimate for 2025 is based on the inbound tourism balance for 2024 and on forecasts from various international market research studies, the international travel industry and GNTB market analyses.

According to Tourism Economics (TE) and the GNTB, growth in the number of overnight stays from European source markets of between five and six per cent and from overseas markets of eleven per cent is expected for Destination Germany in 2025. Cumulatively, Germany's inbound tourism will therefore increase by around seven per cent in 2025.

Positive business expectations for inbound tourism to Germany in the international travel industry also point to further growth: the business climate index in the GNTB Travel Industry Expert Panel rose by six points in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter. Business expectations for the first half of 2025 are even ten points higher than those for the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.

Overseas markets are likely to be the main drivers of the expected growth. In terms of travel intentions, Germany ranks third among preferred European destinations with 22.9 per cent in 2025 behind France and Italy. These detailed analyses of travel behaviour in 2025 from the long-haul travel markets are provided by the latest Long Haul Travel Barometer by the European Travel Commission (ETC). Almost two thirds of respondents (63 per cent) plan to travel long haul in 2025, with 44 per cent planning to travel to Europe. Above-average travel intentions are recorded from the growth markets of China and India.

According to this survey, safety aspects, world-famous tourist landmarks, good value for money and a high-quality level of tourism infrastructure are the main factors influencing overseas guests' decision to travel to Europe. The preservation of nature and cultural heritage is also in strong demand among long-distance travellers.

Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the GNTB, explains: ‘Germany's inbound tourism is an important growth driver for the country's tourism industry, which is characterised by small and medium-sized enterprises. According to the IPK Trend Telegram, rising arrival figures and growing travel spending have already led to a 13 per cent year-on-year increase in total tourism revenue from Europe in the first eight months of 2024. With its high standards, broad range of attractions and attractive value for money, Germany is a major player in the international travel market. According to the UN Tourism Barometer from January 2025, global arrivals rose to 1.4 billion in 2024, and the World Tourism Organisation expects a further increase of three to five per cent for 2025. At seven per cent growth, the forecast for 2025 for inbound tourism to Germany is above the global average.’