Topic summary
Tourism in Germany
Tourism in Germany is a significant sector of the national economy. As of 2023, Germany is the world's third-largest travel and tourism market, with the sector contributing approximately $487.6 billion to the country's GDP. It is the eight-most-visited country in the world, with a total of 407.26 million overnight stays in 2012. This number includes 68.83 million nights by foreign visitors. In 2012, over 30.4 million international tourists arrived in Germany, bringing over US$38 billion in international tourism receipts to the country.
Germany’s main tourist destinations include its major cities as well as rural and scenic areas such as the Bavarian Alps, the Black Forest, the Rhine Valley, and the Baltic and North Sea coastlines. The country contains numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and national parks as well as a large number of museums, historic monuments, castles, and churches that draw culturally motivated visitors.
Germany is also known internationally for several recurring events and traditions that attract tourists, including the Munich Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets held in many towns and cities during the Advent season. Business and conference tourism is an additional component of the sector, with Germany hosting a number of major international trade fairs throughout the year.
Tourism infrastructure in Germany includes an extensive rail network, motorway system, and several major international airports. The sector is supported at the national level by the German National Tourist Board, which promotes Germany as a travel destination in international markets. The ITB Berlin is the world's leading tourism trade fair.
According to Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Reports, Germany is ranked 3 out of 136 countries in the 2017 report, and is rated as one of the safest travel destinations worldwide. According to surveys, the top three reasons for tourists to come to Germany are the German culture, outdoor activities, German holidays and festivities, the countryside and rural areas, and the German cities.