Germany’s Travel and Tourism Industry Outshines European Neighbors

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2024 Economic Impact Research (EIR) has revealed a slower recovery of Germany’s Travel & Tourism sector compared to other key European destinations. The data shows that domestic tourism is supporting the sector in Germany, but international travel spend remains below pre-pandemic levels.

Germany’s Travel & Tourism sector is yet to recover its GDP contribution, jobs lost during the pandemic, and international visitor spend, unlike many of its neighbors. The sector’s contribution to Germany’s GDP reached just over €453BN in 2023, which is €13.5BN below 2019 levels. Employment in Travel & Tourism grew by 5% to reach 6.18MN, but still almost 250,000 jobs behind 2019 levels.

International visitor spending in Germany remained more than 25% behind 2019 levels last year, with €14BN less being spent by international visitors. However, domestic visitor spending fully recovered in 2023, exceeding the 2019 level by €2.9BN.

WTTC President & CEO, Julia Simpson, highlighted the resilience of Germany’s Travel & Tourism sector but expressed concerns about the recent increase in airline passenger taxes, which could hinder the recovery. The government is urged to work with the sector to stimulate the return of international visitors, a crucial driver of the economy.

Looking ahead, WTTC forecasts that Travel & Tourism will contribute almost €469BN to the German economy in 2024, with jobs predicted to increase by 160,000. International visitor spending is expected to remain almost 10% behind 2019 levels, while domestic visitor spending is projected to continue growing modestly.

With the right support, WTTC believes the sector could grow its annual GDP contribution to nearly €554BN by 2034, representing over 12% of the German economy. Collaboration between the government and private sector is essential to ensure Germany remains an attractive destination for international visitors and provides long-term employment opportunities for residents.