German passion for travel at its peak: Over 277 million trips in 2024.
Germany experienced a historic tourism boom last year. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office, residents made approximately 277 million trips with at least one overnight stay – the highest since this survey began in 2012. This means an average of more than three trips per resident per year. The number of trips rose by 11% compared with 2023 and by 6% compared with 2019.
For the tourism industry, this is a strong signal that travel has once again become a central part of Germans' everyday lives.
Record results and the return of the desire for travel
Statistics show that the desire for holidays, adventure and new experiences has reached a new level. After years of restrictions, Germans are clearly making up for lost time – a phenomenon known as revenge travel.
Travel doesn't just benefit hotels and restaurants, but the entire value chain: carriers, destinations and local communities.
Imbalance: Private travel grows, business lags
Although private travel has reached record levels, Business travel remained below pre-pandemic levels. Last year there were 37 million, which is 10% fewer than in 2019.
Reasons
- digitalisation of business – video conferences have replaced some in-person meetings
- Cost rationalisation Companies want to reduce travel budgets
For business tourism, including city centre hotels and event organisers, this means a lasting market transformation.
Where do Germans travel the most?
Most travel is still within Germany – even 163 million journeys. The popularity of domestic destinations stems from the diversity of landscapes, urban amenities, and proximity.
Foreign destinations are dominated by neighbouring and traditional holiday countries:
- Italy – gastronomy, culture and coast
- Austria – mountains, skiing, and weekend breaks
- Spain – Balearic and Canary Islands and coasts
- France and the Netherlands – due to proximity and easy access
These trends show that Germans like to combine the close and familiar with classic Mediterranean destinations.
Transport: the car remains the undisputed leader
The mode of travel clearly confirms the dominance of the car:
- 58% of all journeys by car
- 19% by train – increasingly important for domestic and urban European travel
- 17% by aeroplane – mostly for more distant European and intercontinental destinations
- 3% by bus and other forms of transport
This data is important for planning transport and tourism infrastructure as it shows how crucial the car still is for family and individual tourism.
Despite the records, around 20% of residents did not travel at all. The reasons are varied: economic pressures, inflation, health restrictions, or personal circumstances.
