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Less and less money for vacation: what are the Germans planning?
Germans are planning less vacation spending for 2025. Trends, destinations and surveys on travel behavior in your own country.
Less and less money for vacation: what are the Germans planning?
Summer is approaching and with it the Pentecost holidays in Baden-Württemberg, which means that many families are already making their vacation plans. Nevertheless, current surveys show that a fifth of Germans plan to spend less money on travel this year than last year. This development is supported by a YouGov survey as part of the planned tourism summit in Berlin. Experts fear that uncertainties in the areas of ecology, politics and climate change will have a significant impact on Germans' travel behavior.
Professor Heinz-Dieter Quack, a specialist in destination management, has analyzed the impact of these uncertainties on Germans' travel desires. He is observing a growing tendency to travel less often and to spend most of his vacation in his own country. Over a third of Germans' main holiday trips in 2023 will be to Germany, with Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg as well as the German coastal regions being among the most popular destinations.
Sustainability and cost savings in focus
The trend towards vacationing in your own country is seen by many as cost-saving. According to Quack, certain types of vacation, such as package tours, can also be easier on the wallet. These developments are also reflected in the current figures for 2023: Almost 55 million Germans traveled and spent a record-breaking $112 billion in international tourism.
With a spending level of 1,337 euros per person per trip, Germans have reached a new high. While 28 percent of respondents plan to vacation in Germany in 2024, they also show a strong interest in traveling to other European countries. Almost 39 percent are thinking of traveling abroad for at least five days, with Spain standing out as the most popular destination.
Popular travel destinations and activities
The diversity of German travel destinations becomes clear, as the most common destinations within Germany are Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein. The North and Baltic Sea coasts are particularly popular in the summer months, while the ski areas in Bavaria attract many tourists in winter. Germany has established itself as the second largest ski nation in the world, right after the USA.
Germans also show a clear preference for certain types of vacation. Bathing and beach holidays as well as recreational trips are very popular. Travelers value relaxing, enjoying nature and exploring cultural and historical sights. Air travel dominates international vacation trips with 47 percent of Germans, while 41 percent prefer their own vehicle for travel.
In summary, it can be said that Germans' travel behavior is characterized by a combination of cost sensitivity, a growing awareness of ecological and political influences and a preference for local travel destinations. Exciting developments continue to take place in this new world of travel.