Despite the economic crisis, tourism in Germany is heading for a record year in 2025. The industry has far outweighed the slump suffered during the pandemic and is reaching occupancy levels that exceed those of the pre-COVID era, according to the latest data from the Federal Statistical Office. For 2025, tour operators are already recording a strong volume of bookings. Consumers seem keen to continue spending on holidays, even in a context of economic slowdown.
German tourism had already seen significant growth in the first three quarters of 2024. Despite inflation, many Germans are still prioritising their holidays. For 2026, the tourism sector is expecting strong bookings. Dertour, for example, is recording a record number of bookings for the summer. "The Germans' desire to travel remains intact," said Mark Tantz, CEO of Dertour, in a recent interview.
TUI, the world's leading travel industry leader, is also benefiting from this trend. CEO Sebastian Ebel expects further growth in 2025. The winter season has started well and there have already been 7% more bookings for the summer than the previous year, especially in Germany. The weak economy does not seem to be dampening the desire to travel. "We have always seen that even in difficult economic times, consumers want to travel and take holidays," said Ebel. "The fact that the number of overnight stays increased in November, despite unstable weather and school holidays, is a very positive sign," said Norbert Kunz, managing director of the German Tourism Association (DTV). Tourist destinations have managed to ensure stable demand even in the low season.
