Strict German discipline and an unflinching commitment to image renewal are paying off for Europe’s largest economy’s tourism industry, which is now showing signs of shedding the offsetting legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic.
And while domestic travel is the main source of Germany’s tourism revival, international visitors are also returning in droves to Das Land der Dichter und Denker.
According to official government data, overnight stays rose by 12.4% in April compared with the same month a year earlier.
Domestic guest stays were 2.6% higher than in April 2019, at 34 million, while foreign tourist stays were still 13.2% lower at 6.3 million Overall stays were just 0.2% below the pre-pandemic level.
Tourism directly employs around 3 million workers in Germany, and domestic and foreign visitors spent about 330 billion euros ($357 billion) on goods and services in 2019, before the Covid pandemic essentially brought global travel to a standstill.
Now, with the pandemic subsiding, travel restrictions have been dropped in Germany and there are clear signs the industry is continuing its gradual recovery despite high inflation, expensive energy and regular airline and train disruptions.
