The German travel and tourism sector is rebounding strongly in 2023 and by the end of this year, it would have reached 95 pc of the 2019 levels, says WTTC, adding that most of the jobs lost during the pandemic-induced slowdown would also be recovered.

The travel and tourism sector in Germany is set to contribute EUR 355 billion to the national Gross Domestic Product in 2023, reaching 95 pc of the level attained in 2019. The sector is also seeing a rapid jump in job creation and would recover almost all jobs lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

These are some of the key findings of World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in its 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) on the Germany travel and tourism sector.

According to a press statement issued by WTTC, with EUR 355 billion, the sector is set to represent 9.3 pc of the German economy. WTTC forecasts that the sector will create more than 168,000 jobs this year, recovering most of the jobs lost due to the COVID 19 pandemic to reach 5.6 million employees in the sector.

WTTC says that last year, the travel and tourism sector’s GDP contribution grew by 43.4 pc to reach more than EUR 338 billion, representing 8.8 pc of the economy, edging closer to the 2019 high of EUR 374 billion.

Last year the sector also created 550,000 more jobs from the previous year to reach 5.4 million jobs nationally or one in eight jobs across Germany. The sector has now recovered over 50 pc of the 1million jobs lost during the pandemic.

Last year also saw the return of international travellers heading to Germany with spending from overseas visitors growing 61 pc to reach almost EUR 31 billion, says the report by WTTC, which adds that domestic visitor spend is within touching distance of the pre-pandemic level of EUR 307.8 billion and is currently EUR 304.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 49 pc.

“The Travel & Tourism sector in Germany is making a strong recovery. It will contribute EUR 355 billion to the German economy this year and employ one in eight jobs across the country. Germany is forecast to remain the fifth most popular tourism destination in Europe over the next decade, demonstrating its enduring appeal,” says Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO.

The global tourism body forecasts that over the next 10 years, the sector will grow its GDP contribution to more than EUR 440 billion by 2033, 10.3 pc of the overall economy and will employ almost 6.1 million people across the country, with one in seven Germans working in the sector.