Tourism analysis Germany: trends for the current summer 2025
How long tourists stay in Germany depends heavily on their origin, the destination within the country and regional conditions. In a recent analysis of the monthly tourism figures from the Federal Statistical Office, we at BSBI compared the average length of stay during the summer travel period from June to September (2023 versus 2024), broken down by guest origin, federal state and travel region. The results provide a potential forecast for the 2025 summer: while the number of arrivals rose slightly, the average length of stay fell overall. The differences between individual countries of origin and between the German regions are particularly striking — with clear winners and losers in the tourism competition.
Tourism balance June to September: arrivals up, length of stay down
The tourism figures from June to September show an overall year-on-year comparison: the number of arrivals rose by 1.73%, overnight stays increased by just 0.01%, but the average length of stay (overnight stays per arrival) of travelers in German accommodation establishments fell by 1.80%. There was a negative trend among German tourists themselves: On average, 1.72 percent fewer spent their time in accommodation in Germany. The same applies to guests from abroad — the average length of stay fell by 3.23 percent compared to the previous year. Although the number of arrivals (up 9.44 percent) and overnight stays (up 6.75 percent) from abroad increased significantly. The figures make it clear: Tourism in Germany is increasing, but visitors are staying shorter — a clear trend.
Bulgarian tourists stay the longest in Germany
Of the 56 countries surveyed, Bulgarian tourists preferred to spend their time in Germany, with the largest year-on-year increase in the average length of stay (up 6.87%). This was followed by the Taiwanese (up 4%) and our immediate neighbors from the Czech Republic (up 2.27%). Germany was less popular with tourists from Slovenia (down 19.86%), Croatia (down 18.13%) and Slovakia (down 15.13%).
Federal state ranking: Saxony-Anhalt in first place, Berlin the least popular
In the ranking by federal state, Saxony-Anhalt performs best overall (plus 1.01 percent for average length of stay). Surprisingly, our capital city Berlin recorded the biggest drop with a fall of 2.97 percent. If we differentiate between international and German tourists, however, there are differences in the preferred federal states: Hesse is the top destination for international guests, while Germans prefer to stay in Saxony-Anhalt.
Erzgebirge tourist region region loses guests
The frontrunner among the 141 German destinations analyzed is the Elbe-Elster Land in Brandenburg (up 8.11% on average length of stay). Equally attractive for travellers is Weimarer Land in second place (up 7.03 percent), followed by Holstein Switzerland (up 6.41 percent) in third place. The Barnimer Land in Brandenburg recorded the fewest tourists — the average length of stay here fell by a full 18.25 percent year-on-year. A look at the development of arrivals and overnight stays shows that the Ahr Valley in Rhineland-Palatinate took first place in both categories, with a significant increase compared to the previous year, while the Erzgebirge tourist region in Saxony recorded the largest decrease in both arrivals and overnight stays.
“Our latest tourism analysis in Germany shows that shorter stays coupled with rising arrival numbers are changing the economic structure of tourism in Germany. This is a clear signal to the industry and tourist regions: more visitors do not automatically mean more added value. The decisive factor is whether it is possible to create innovative offerings that keep people coming back and support travellers in their digital convenience: More and more tourists expect digital online travel guides and contactless services. These developments present both travel destinations and tourism businesses with new strategic challenges for the 2025 summer. Those who invest now in quality, authenticity and personalised experiences will have an advantage next summer” comments Dr. Kamilia Kentra, lecturer at the BSBI and tourism expert.
About the study
The analysis compares Germany’s monthly tourism figures in the summer months of June to September between 2023 and 2024. The analysis points included the survey of arrivals, overnight stays and the average length of stay by tourist origin, federal state and travel region. Data source are figures from the Federal Statistical Office.