At tourism summit: politicians now have to ensure relaxation!

At tourism summit: politicians now have to ensure relaxation!

Berlin, Deutschland - On June 2, 2025, the tourism summit took place in Berlin, on which representatives of the German tourism industry discussed urgent political support and necessary reforms by the new federal government. The industry is currently facing considerable challenges, such as an economic, geopolitical crises and noticeable uncertainty among companies and consumers. Sören Hartmann, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Economy (BTW), underlined the urgency of the new government's urgency to stabilize and promote the industry.

In this context, there are positive approaches in the coalition agreement, which includes measures to reduce bureaucracy and reduce corporate costs. Anja Karliczek, chair of the tourism committee in the Bundestag, sees a solid foundation in these provisions, but demands that these goals be implemented rapidly. The general manager of the German Travel Association (DRV), Achim Wehrmann, also emphasized the importance that the promises made in the contract are observed.

urgency of reforms

Guido Zöllick, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA), called for a quick action in the industry and referred to the planned reduction in sales tax for food in restaurants to 7 % from January 2026. Heiko Reitz, manager at Lufthansa, warned the government to withdraw the increase in air traffic tax to improve competitiveness. These surcharges thus help to reduce their activities in Germany.

Alett von Massenbach, President of the ADV airport association, warned of the consequences of this withdrawal, in particular the loss of the connection of important European economic centers. Ulrich Lange, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, also announced measures to reduce aviation costs and improve accessibility.

A look at the industry

The tourism industry in Germany is one of the most important economic sectors and generates around 4 percent of the added value in the country. Almost 3 million people are employed in the tourism sector. The economic importance of this industry is comparable to that of key industries such as the automotive and mechanical engineering industry. This information illustrates the central role of tourism for the German economy, as well as btw.de reported.

Nevertheless, the industry is currently faced with the consequences of climate change, high inflation and economic uncertainty. Hartmann warned that rising prices could cause holidaymakers to be deterred from the lower income area of ​​travel. A YouGov survey showed that a fifth of the respondents are planning to spend less money on travel in 2025. A similar number indicated that they wanted to go on a rare vacation, while 11 % information of wanting to travel shorter. Only around 10 % of the respondents stated that they want to travel more often this year or spend more money, whereby households in particular want to actively invest in the travel area with over 4000 euros net income.

34 % of people, on the other hand, plan to significantly change their travel behavior compared to 2024. These different opinions and behavior trends reflect the uncertainties that the tourism sector looks against, and illustrate the need for the political solutions found.

Overall, the actors in German tourism are required before the necessary interaction of political support, economic reforms and changes in consumer behavior in order to stabilize and strengthen the industry sustainably.