Press release: Incoming Tourism: Cautious Optimism for Summer 2025 After a Slow Start to the Year

Frankfurt am Main, 12 May 2025 – Preliminary figures from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office show that 14.6 million international overnight stays were recorded in accommodation establishments with at least ten beds between January and March 2025. This marks a 2.6 per cent decline compared to the same period in 2024.

Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), commented: “International tourism is currently facing extremely volatile conditions. While the slow start to the year was partly due to calendar-related shifts, ongoing global trade tensions are also causing uncertainty for both consumers and businesses. However, experience shows that people’s desire to travel, relax, and experience different cultures – as well as the essential role of business travel in maintaining economic ties – tend to outweigh short-term crises. Looking ahead to summer, we see promising opportunities for inbound tourism, especially within Europe. According to recent analysis by the European Travel Commission, trends indicate longer stays and increased travel budgets. Germany continues to hold its place as Europeans’ number one destination for cultural tourism, bolstered by a growing interest in city breaks, cultural travel, and touring holidays. Key factors influencing travellers’ choice of destination – value for money (22 per cent), safety (18 per cent), and mild climate (14 per cent) – all reflect positively on Germany.”

For the months of May to July 2025, advance bookings of international flights to Germany are still 3.9 per cent below the previous year's figures, according to ForwardKeys (seat capacity for Q1 2025 also remains 13.9 per cent lower than in 2019). Taking into account the impact of additional demand for the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament, it is expected that figures in the flight sector will remain stable during the peak season.

Across Europe, travel intentions for the months of April to September 2025 in the current Monitoring Sentiment for Intra European Travel (MSIET) by the European Travel Commission are still slightly below the previous year's figures at 72.2 per cent. At the same time, however, 80 per cent are planning longer holiday trips (more than four nights), while 14 per cent (up three per cent) even want to travel for more than twelve nights. 47 per cent of European travellers are planning a holiday budget of more than EUR 1,500 per person - an increase of 13 per cent on the previous year's figures.

According to the GNTB, one current uncertainty factor is the low level of consumer confidence in the US market. In 2024, the US was Germany’s second most important source market with 7.2 million overnight stays, and a key driver of growth in inbound tourism. An ad hoc survey commissioned by the GNTB and conducted in the US between 5 and 8 May 2025 revealed that nearly a quarter of Americans planning international travel do not intend to let geopolitical tensions influence their choice of destination. However, one third of respondents said they were scaling back their travel plans due to financially challenging times. A further quarter intend to stick with their chosen destination but plan to reduce their travel spending. In the same survey, Germany was perceived by US respondents with travel intentions as a particularly safe and attractive destination – a key competitive advantage in the global tourism market. The GNTB's key accounts in the US market are expressing cautious optimism about their business with Germany, with most feeling confident that they will maintain last year's levels.