Germans spent a record €88 billion on travel in 2025.
This is the highest figure ever recorded, 5% above the previous year, and a staggering €20 billion more than before the pandemic.
And 2026 is already shaping up to be even stronger.
Speaking at the opening press conference of ITB Berlin 2026, German Travel Association President Albin Loidl said travel spending reached a new record high of €87.9 billion in 2025, underlining the resilience of German travel demand despite significant geopolitical tensions.
Organised travel performed particularly well, growing 9.3% to €43.4 billion now accounting for roughly half of all travel revenue in Germany.
Cruises were a standout growth driver, generating €6.7 billion in revenue, an 8% increase year-on-year.
Record Spending
Speaking at the opening press conference of ITB Berlin 2026, German Travel Association President Albin Loidl said travel spending reached a new record high of €87.9 billion in 2025, underlining the resilience of German travel demand despite significant geopolitical tensions.
Read Also: German Travel Bookings Reach Record Levels Amid Rising Demand
Organised travel performed particularly well, growing 9.3% to €43.4 billion now accounting for roughly half of all travel revenue in Germany. Cruises were a standout growth driver, generating €6.7 billion in revenue, an 8% increase year-on-year.
Summer 2026
Germans are not just spending more. They are planning further ahead than ever before. Summer 2026 bookings already show revenue growth of 7% and a 4% increase in guest numbers compared to the same period last year, based on Travel Data and Analytics figures for bookings made through travel agencies and tour operator portals by the end of January 2026.
Air travel sales increased by 14% with air passenger numbers up 12%. Package flights and cruises are expected to be the mainstays of summer travel, supported by transparent pricing and all-inclusive packages.
Where Germans Are Going
Turkey currently ranks as the most popular summer destination, followed by Spain and Greece. Tour operator sales for Greece are up 8%, Turkey up 12%, and Spain up 5%. Egypt and Italy are recording above-average growth of 18% and 17% respectively.
Among long-haul destinations, the Maldives and Mauritius are both posting revenue growth of 27%, while Thailand is up 3%. However, bookings to the United States have declined by double digits, pushing America down to 14th place in the destination ranking.
