The Indian tourism flow to Germany has registered a growth of almost a third in 2023 and with a number of cultural and sportive events lined up, the potential for tourism in 2024 is also bright.

Inbound tourism into Germany is steadily recovering, making an increasing contribution to the total volume of overnight stays, according to an analysis by the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) based on provisional overnight stay figures from the Federal Statistical Office.

In a press statement, the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) in India says that the share of Indian visitors to German tourism is on the rise. According to the latest data, in December 2023, India recorded 51,666 overnights in Germany, reflecting a growth of 2.2 pc compared to December 2022.

The statement adds that while the number of overnight stays was still below the 2019 peak, by about 7.5 pc, the overall trend shows a strong recovery rate for Indian travellers. The organisation says that in total, the number of overnights from India into Germany until December 2023 reached 826,703, representing a strong increase of 32.6 pc compared to 2022.

‘‘India is maintaining its position in the recovery rate for people traveling to Germany from India. The good recovery prospects from overseas source markets offer strong potential for the further recovery of German inbound tourism in the coming months, with growing travel activity from India, particularly from Asian markets,” says Romit Theophilus, Director of Marketing & Sales Office, (India), GNTO.

“In the European Travel Commission’s Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel study, Germany maintained its position among the top five preferred destinations for Europeans in autumn 2023 and is participating in the Europe-wide trend towards international travel. The proportion of those who only want to travel in their own country in the next six months has fallen continuously from 31.5 pc in fall 2021 to 25.7 pc in fall 2023. European destinations were still preferred by 55.3 pc of travellers in autumn 2021, compared to 60.3 pc in autumn 2023. This means that Europe, as the most important source region, together with good recovery prospects from overseas source markets, also offers strong potential for the further recovery of German inbound tourism in the coming months growing travel activity from Asia, and China in particular, will have a positive impact on the further development of inbound tourism. We expect additional impetus in the summer from visitors to the European Football Championship in Germany. In addition, cultural highlights such as the 250th anniversary of Caspar David Friedrich’s birth, the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture 2025 will provide significant travel opportunities for international guests,” says Petra Hedorfer, Chairwoman of the GNTB Executive Board.

The statement adds that focussed themes of sustainability, feel-good experiences and the relaunch of 52 UNESCO World Heritage sites have played a significant role in generating interest among Indian travellers for destination Germany. The unique offerings and attractions continue to attract Indian tourists, contributing to the growth of overnights and highlighting the appeal of Germany as a preferred travel destination.

The tourism board says that through strategic marketing initiatives and collaborations, GNTO India remains committed to promoting Germany as a top choice for Indian travellers seeking diverse travel experiences, cultural discoveries, and memorable adventures.