Germany eyes 10% increase in Indian tourist influx by 2025, ET TravelWorld

Germany is set to boost its share of Indian tourists, targeting a 10 per cent rise in 2025, as the country anticipates reaching one million overnight stays by Indian visitors this year. Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), shared this optimistic outlook at a press conference in New Delhi, where she highlighted Germany’s growing importance as a destination for Indian travellers.

Germany has a share of over 10 per cent in the Indian travel market in Europe in 2023. Almost 1 billion euros worth of revenue was generated in Germany from Indian visitors’ trips last year. The country was ranked 3rd most popular European destination for Indian travellers in 2023 after the United Kingdom and France.

“I am quite hopeful that we will reach 1 million overnight stays this year by Indian tourists and an additional 1 lakh nights next year, marking a 10 per cent growth in 2025,” Hedorfer stated. The average night stay by Indians in Germany is about 9.3 days. The GNTB data revealed that most Indians travel to Germany for round trips with a stay of more than 4 nights on average.

From January to July 2024, around 175,000 Indian tourists visited Germany, contributing to 523,076 overnight stays. In 2023, over 232,000 Indian tourists visited the country, leading to a 33 per cent year-on-year increase in overnight stays, totalling 826,000. Germany has seen a quicker post-pandemic recovery in Indian tourism compared to other Asian markets, with the Indian market recovering at a rate of 86 per cent.

According to IPK International, the total turnover of all Indian tourists in Germany in 2023 was 900 million euros.

“We are expecting a 10 per cent plus increase for next year from your market,” Hedorfer added, emphasising the importance of India as a growing source market for German tourism. Tourism Economics forecasts that Indian travellers will generate 1.6 million overnight stays in Germany annually by the end of the decade.

Germany’s strategic focus on the Indian market includes the re-launch of the India Pool initiative in 2025, which is designed to enhance the country’s visibility as a travel destination. “We are building bridges between the demand from Indian travellers and Germany’s tourism offerings through the India Pool and targeted market activities,” Hedorfer explained.Notably, there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of flights between India and Germany in the first half of this year in comparison to the same period in 2019.

Furthermore, the GNTB is organising a high-profile delegation trip, the “India Digital Travel Knowledge Tour,” in May 2025. “CEOs from the German travel industry will meet forward-looking Indian tech and travel companies to explore collaborations and gain insights into the specific needs of Indian travellers,” she said.

The German Tourism Board is also launching specialised campaigns to attract niche segments like Indian weddings and engaging digital-savvy travellers through initiatives such as the ‘Live Like a Local’ project. “We aim to leverage the high digital competence of Indian tourists by offering personalised, interactive travel experiences,” Hedorfer noted. She also said there is an exclusive campaign planned in India for ‘Honeymoon travel’ in Germany.

With these initiatives, Germany is positioning itself as a key European destination for Indian tourists, aiming to capitalise on the growing outbound travel market in India.