Tourexpi
Petra
Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the GNTB, said:
“Germany
remains an attractive destination in an international comparison. This is
confirmed by a consumer survey we commissioned in early August across twelve
source markets, which found that 54.6 per cent still intend to travel to
Germany within the next six months.”
According
to the Federal Statistical Office, international overnight stays in June 2025
totalled 7.6 million – down 12.7% year-on-year. This decline is largely due to
the record figures in June 2024 during the UEFA European Football Championship.
Over the first half of 2025, there were 36.4 million overnight stays by
international visitors, a 3.2% drop compared to the same period last year.
Excluding the “UEFA EURO effect,” this represents a 4.0% increase versus the
first half of 2023.
Data
from MKG Consulting confirm the EURO effect in the hotel sector: in June 2025,
occupancy rates were 5.5 percentage points lower than a year earlier. For the
first half of the year as a whole, occupancy averaged around 65%, roughly
matching 2024 levels, with a slight shift towards higher hotel categories.
International
air arrivals also declined slightly – by 4.2% year-on-year at the end of June
2025 – according to Forward Keys. This is partly due to flight capacities to
and from Germany, which remain 20% below pre-pandemic levels. Industry
associations point to higher air traffic control fees and Germany’s air
passenger tax as factors slowing recovery compared with other European
destinations.
The
European Travel Commission (ETC) offers a more optimistic outlook for the
second half of the year. Its Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel
(MSIET) survey from May 2025 shows that 77.2% of Europeans plan to travel
between June and November – five percentage points more than in the spring
survey. There is also a growing preference for late summer travel: while in
2024, 39% of respondents planned their summer holidays for August or September,
this year the figure is 47%.
Germany
ranks among the top five European destinations for summer 2025, alongside
Spain, Italy, Greece, and France. According to MSIET, the most important
factors influencing Europeans’ choice of destination are safety, stable
weather, and competitive pricing. The positive trends towards higher travel
spending and slightly longer stays, noted in the previous survey, remain
unchanged.
Image
Credit: © Tourexpi
The most interesting news
Read the News

ITB Berlin Convention 2026: Diverse Programme Sets New Trends for the Future of Tourism
From 3 to 5 March 2026, the ITB Berlin Convention brings together leading international experts to discuss balance, innovation and responsibility in global tourism
Read the News

Thailand to Open the 2026 MotoGP World Championship at Buri Ram
Season opener at Chang International Circuit underscores Thailand’s role as a leading global sports tourism destination
Read the News

Ryanair to Cut Brussels Traffic as Belgium Raises Passenger Taxes
Airline plans to reduce capacity by more than two million seats by 2027, citing higher taxes at Charleroi and nationwide increases in passenger charges
Read the News

Germany: GNTB highlights growth potential for coach tourism through international marketing
Stable demand, strong overseas markets and digital innovation position coach travel as a future-oriented segment of Destination Germany
Read the News

UN Tourism Launches Investment Guidelines Highlighting Bulgaria’s Tourism Potential
New publication positions Bulgaria as an attractive, transparent and competitive destination for tourism investment
Read the News

Savaya Group Unveils Zumana, a New Beachfront Destination on Bali’s Kuta Beach
New lifestyle venue set to reintroduce Kuta as a contemporary hospitality hotspot when it opens in 2026
Read the News

Ryanair to add 300,000 seats in Germany for summer 2026 following tax relief
Airline announces 11 new routes after Germany moves to cut air traffic tax and freeze air navigation charges, reversing part of its planned capacity reductions
Read the News

Desert X AlUla 2026 opens monumental land art exhibition in Saudi Arabia’s ancient oasis
The fourth edition of the international open-air biennial brings 11 leading artists to AlUla, transforming desert landscapes into a global platform for site-responsive art
Read the News

MGallery Collection enters 2026 with a wave of distinctive new openings
From the Maldives and Australia to France and Thailand, five upcoming hotels reflect MGallery’s focus on design-led hospitality rooted in a strong sense of place
Read the News

Agoda maps out the best places to travel across Asia in 2026
A new month-by-month guide links destinations, seasonal weather, and cultural festivals, helping travelers plan each trip around the moment a place comes alive
Read the News

Celebrity Cruises introduces four European-inspired festivals on Celebrity Xcel
New onboard festivals transform Mediterranean culture into an immersive experience at The Bazaar, debuting during Celebrity Xcel’s first European season in summer 2026
Read the News

Ice storm brings widespread disruption across western Germany
Freezing rain forces school closures, flight cancellations and rail restrictions as authorities warn of dangerous travel conditions
Read the News

TUI Junior Academy launches new phase in Türkiye to protect coastlines and empower young leaders
The programme reaches 5,500 students and trains 350 teachers, combining environmental education with hands-on action along Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast
Read the News

Sanya Marathon spending surge highlights rise of the ‘racecation’
Strong tourism, hospitality and retail performance underscores how major sports events are reshaping travel demand
Read the News

Lufthansa Group Partners with Starlink to Introduce High-Speed Internet Across All Airlines
Fastest in-flight connectivity in all classes, free for status customers and Travel ID users
Read the News

Boeing Outpaces Airbus in Aircraft Orders in 2025
US manufacturer records 1,173 orders, reclaiming lead for the first time since 2018
Read the News

Trump International Golf Club, Wadi Safar unveiled as first landmark project in Riyadh
Dar Al Arkan, Dar Global and The Trump Organization advance luxury golf, hospitality and residential development in Diriyah
Read the News

Yemen completes evacuation of stranded foreign tourists from Socotra
609 international visitors airlifted to Saudi Arabia as authorities announce plans to restore regular air links
Read the News

EVA Air Named One of the World’s Safest Airlines for 2026
Taiwanese carrier ranks eighth globally and earns recognition for the 13th consecutive year
Read the News

SIGEP World 2026 puts gelato, pizza and future foodservice concepts in the spotlight
From 16 January in Rimini, special projects highlight premium hospitality, sustainability and innovation across 30 exhibition halls
Read the News

TAT Welcomes Belavia’s Inaugural Direct Flights from Minsk to Pattaya and Phuket
New long-haul services strengthen Thailand’s airline strategy and open access from a high-potential European market
