Breaking The Barrier

Destination Germany continues to see its foreign overnight numbers increase. In fact, in 2013, Germany broke the 70 million barrier, with preliminary figures — from Germany’s Federal Statistics Office — revealing that foreign guests spent 71.6 million nights in German hotels (with ten or more beds) last year — that’s an increase of 4% over 2012.

German National Tourist Board (GNTB) CEO Petra Hedorfer said: “Presenting itself in prime form, the German tourism brand continues to see growth in demand from foreign countries, despite difficult economic conditions in Europe and beyond.”

Five source markets generate close to half of the 2013 growth. Foreign overnights for January through November 2013 increased by close to three million. Forty-six per cent (1.3 million overnights) were generated by visitors from Great Britain (349,000); Russia (322,000); Switzerland (248,000); the Arabian Gulf nations (237,000); and Poland (173,000).

Bavaria continues to receive the highest number of all foreign overnights, followed by Germany’s capital, Berlin, with the state of Baden-Wurttemberg in third place.

Both North and South America continue to provide 10% of Germany’s overnight total. Strong, dynamic growth is seen from Asian countries and especially China and the Arab Gulf nations.

Looking ahead, Hedorfer said: “For Destination Germany, we count on an increase of 1% to 3% in 2014. As for the long term, though, for 2020, we believe a total of 80-million foreign overnights is a realistic figure.”

Go to http://www.germany.travel for more.