Germany Travel and Tourism Update

Visitor Statistics from Germany

Approximately 1,481,000 Germans traveled to the United States in 2022 and already in first three months of 2023, around 320,000 have arrived in the U.S. This number ranks among the highest for all foreign travel to the U.S., and, with the summer months being the most popular for German travel, it is likely that the total number of visitors will substantially increase before the end of the year. Additionally, Germans are well-known for visiting second and third tier destinations rather than just the major gateways and attractions, thus playing a critical role in the American tourism industry.  

German Travel Sector

Most German travelers book their trips through German tour operators and/or travel agencies. This ensures the safeguarding of their travel investment through German travel package laws. While the 9,000+ agencies experienced significant losses during the pandemic and its aftermath, many are starting to see an uptick in their business as travel returns to a more “pre-pandemic normal” level. Packages purchased from tour operators and agencies are frequently purchased well in advance of any trips, but the time between booking and travel has shortened considerably since the pandemic.  

Outlook for Travel

For summer 2023, more than 400 direct daily flights were planned from Germany to the United States. These include flights from the following airlines: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Condor, Singapore Airlines, and Euro Wings Discover. According to the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO), an estimated 1,775,000 travelers are expected from Germany in 2023, a 20% increase from 2022, and 2,000,000 are expected in 2024, a return to pre-pandemic figures.  

Visa Information

Bloggers and Influencers have had trouble receiving visas because they generally fall between the requirements for I-Visas and ESTA. However, O-1 Visas are available for those who have what Homeland Security defines as a “large following.” These grant the visa recipient the temporary right to work in the United States. 

Contact frankfurt.office@trade.gov for further details.