German tourism thriving, despite decline in foreign visitors

Overnight stays at German tourist accommodation rose 3.1% year-on-year in March, driven entirely by domestic demand, the Federal Statistical Office reported on Monday.

A total of 33.6 million overnight stays were recorded in hotels and other accommodation establishments with at least 10 beds during the month.

The increase was attributable solely to domestic guests, who booked 28.3 million overnight stays — up 3.8% on the same month a year earlier. Meanwhile, overnight stays by foreign visitors fell 0.4% to 5.2 million.

A similar trend was visible across the first quarter as a whole, which recorded 86.7 million overnight stays, 2.5% above the same period a year earlier. 

The rise in overnight stays by foreign guests, at 0.8%, was significantly weaker than the 2.9% increase recorded for domestic guests. 

The figures did not meet the record set in the first quarter of 2024.