Germany Outbound Tourism Market

How big is the Germany outbound tourism market in 2026?

The market was valued at USD 126.2 billion in 2025 and is estimated to reach USD 138.6 billion in 2026. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2026 to 2036 and reach USD 353.0 billion by 2036.

German residents made 105 million trips abroad with at least one overnight stay in 2025, 8.3% fewer than in 2024 but 5.4% more than in 2019, and Italy, Austria, Spain, France and the Netherlands remained the five most frequent destinations. Revenue has held up better than trip numbers: Dertour reported that its billed turnover rose 18% to EUR 10.8 billion (USD 12.42 billion) in 2025 on 7% more guests, and the German Travel Association counted 4% more turnover and 2% more travellers for organised trips in summer 2026 up to the end of August. The gains were uneven. Long-haul turnover fell 14% after flight cancellations and travel warnings linked to the Middle East conflict, while the eastern Mediterranean destinations rose 8%, and TUI’s booked revenue for summer 2026 in Germany stood 3% below the previous year. The Germany outbound tourism market is estimated at USD 138.6 billion in 2026, up 9.8% from USD 126.2 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach USD 353.0 billion by 2036 at a 9.8% CAGR.

Market Size & Forecast

Table 1: Germany Outbound Tourism Market Size and Forecast (USD billion and CAGR percentage), 2025 to 2036

Market size and forecast	Value
2025 Value	USD 126.2 billion
Estimated market size in 2026	USD 138.6 billion
Projected market size by 2036	USD 353.0 billion
CAGR (2026-2036)	9.8%
Added revenue, 2026 to 2036	USD 214.4 billion

Early bookings already show how the next season is taking shape: in October 2026, turnover from summer 2027 bookings stood 8% above the comparable prior-year level, mainly on early cruise bookings, while winter 2026/27 was 2% below. Over the full decade the market is expected to add USD 214.4 billion, and the mix of late leisure bookings, early cruise bookings and nearby European stays will decide where it is earned.

Demand and Booking Indicators

Table 2: Demand and Booking Indicators for the Germany Outbound Tourism Market (percentages, euro and trips), 2025 to 2026

Metric	Value
Market growth, 2025 to 2026	9.8%
German trips abroad with an overnight stay, 2025	105 million, down 8.3% on 2024
Organised-trip turnover, summer 2026 (to end August)	Up 4%, with travellers up 2%
TUI booked revenue in Germany, summer 2026	Down 3%
Dertour billed turnover, 2025	EUR 10.8 billion (USD 12.42 billion), up 18%

Key Market Trends & Insights

• By purpose type: Holiday or leisure is expected to account for 46.7% of the market in 2026, as German travellers prioritise international holidays.
• Online booking is estimated to hold 54.2% by booking channel in 2026, since travellers compare fares and hotel options digitally.
• Long-haul turnover fell 14% in summer 2026 after flight cancellations and travel warnings linked to the Middle East conflict, while the eastern Mediterranean destinations rose 8%.
• Just over three million German residents took an ocean cruise in 2025, 9% more than a year earlier, and AIDA reports an above-average advance booking position for summer 2026.

Destination Highlights

• Italy accounted for 12.4% of German trips abroad in 2025, followed by Austria at 11.1%, Spain at 10.9%, France at 8.3% and the Netherlands at 7.7%.
• Among organised summer trips in 2026, turnover to Greece rose 10%, to Turkey 9% and to Egypt 4%, and the Spanish mainland grew 11%.

Analyst Perspective

“German travellers are still going abroad, but they are choosing more carefully: fewer long-haul trips, later bookings and more cruises. Operators that keep prices clear and let customers change plans without penalty are likely to hold the customers who continue to travel.”

- Ronak Shah, Principal Consultant, Future Market Insights.

How is the Germany outbound tourism market segmented?

The Germany outbound tourism market is segmented by purpose type, booking channel, tourist type, tourism type, tour type, consumer orientation and age group. By purpose type, the market is sub segmented into holiday or leisure, business, visits to friends and relatives, and other purposes. By booking channel, it is sub segmented into online booking, phone booking and in-person booking, and by tourist type into international and domestic. By tourism type, it is sub segmented into cultural and heritage tourism, medical tourism, ecotourism or sustainable tourism, sports tourism, wellness tourism and other tourism, and by tour type into package traveler, independent traveler and tour group. By consumer orientation, it is sub segmented into women and men, and by age group into 15 to 25, 26 to 35, 36 to 45, 46 to 55 and 66 to 75 years. The France outbound tourism market and the France outbound travel market describe another origin. The destination comparison profiles Spain, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Croatia.

Why is holiday or leisure the leading segment by purpose type?

Holiday or leisure is estimated to account for 46.7% by purpose type in 2026.

Table 3: Purpose Type Leadership and Market Growth for the Germany Outbound Tourism Market (segment and CAGR percentage), 2026 to 2036

Metric	Value
Market CAGR (2026 to 2036)	9.8%
Leading segment	Holiday or leisure (46.7% of the market in 2026)

Private trips made up around 233 million of the 274 million trips with an overnight stay that German residents took in 2025, against 41 million business trips. A holiday budget has to cover transport and accommodation that suit the destination and the time available, and in summer 2026 the eastern Mediterranean destinations accounted for half of the turnover of organised travel, with Greece up 10%, Turkey up 9% and Egypt up 4%. Across the EU, residents spent EUR 379.4 billion (USD 436.3 billion) on foreign trips in 2025, with accommodation taking 35% and transport 32%. A short stay nearby and a distant itinerary need different connections, and a change of route can alter the nights of lodging as well as the time left at the destination. Packages bring these arrangements together, while optional services let travellers choose how much of the holiday to buy from one provider. FMI finds that operators win leisure customers by showing a workable sequence of travel and accommodation at a clear total price.

Why is online booking the leading segment by booking channel?

Online booking is expected to hold 54.2% by booking channel in 2026.

Online distribution gained further importance in summer 2026, and the German Travel Association found that the last-minute boom took place mainly online while travel agencies developed markedly worse than the industry as a whole. At TUI, app sales reached 12.9% of total sales in the Markets + Airline segment, up 20%, and customers continued to book closer to departure. Booking online covers both complete packages and separately bought flights and accommodation, so a traveller comparing packages needs to see what the price includes and which changes cost extra, while someone buying components needs arrival times and hotel dates to fit before confirming each reservation. Service after payment is part of the offer, since a revised flight can affect a hotel stay even when the two were bought separately. FMI finds that providers keep online customers by making booking records easy to retrieve and amendment options quick to explain.

Why is international travel the leading segment by tourist type?

International tourists are anticipated to make up 61.8% by tourist type in 2026.

German residents made 105 million trips abroad in 2025, and Italy, Austria, Spain, France and the Netherlands took 12.4%, 11.1%, 10.9%, 8.3% and 7.7% of them, so neighbouring and nearby European countries form the core of international travel from Germany. Longer trips depend more on flight availability: after flight cancellations and travel warnings linked to the Middle East conflict, long-haul turnover fell 14% in summer 2026. Dertour describes its 2026 outlook as more cautious after repatriating more than 11,000 travellers. For operators this means providing nearby alternatives on the same clear terms as long-haul trips and being ready to rebook when a route closes. Customers who see the cost of a change before they buy are more likely to commit to an itinerary abroad.

What are the drivers, restraints and opportunities in the Germany outbound tourism market?

In the Germany outbound tourism market, a steady appetite for holidays and flexible online booking support a 9.8% CAGR through 2036. At the same time, disruption to long-haul travel restrains faster expansion.

Driver: German households keep holidays in their budgets, so turnover and traveller numbers can rise even in a year when trips abroad fall. The German Travel Association, for example, counted 4% more turnover and 2% more travellers for organised trips in summer 2026 up to the end of August.

Restraint: Conflict in the Middle East removes flights and prompts travel warnings, which hit long-haul travel first. Long-haul turnover fell 14% in summer 2026, Dertour describes its 2026 outlook as more cautious, and TUI recorded a one-off impact of EUR 20 million (USD 23 million) from the Iran war in its third quarter.

Opportunity: Early bookings and cruises give operators a base for 2027. Turnover from summer 2027 bookings stood 8% above the comparable prior-year level in October 2026, mainly on early cruise bookings, and AIDA reports many bookings made up to two years ahead.

How do destination forecasts compare?

Table 4: Destination Growth Outlook for the Germany Outbound Tourism Market (CAGR percentage), 2026 to 2036 — FMI estimates

Destination	CAGR (2026-2036)
Spain	9.9%
Turkey	10.0%
Italy	10.0%
Greece	9.9%
Portugal	10.1%
Croatia	9.9%

Source: Future Market Insights estimates.

Germany-origin tourism expenditure in the six profiled destinations is projected to grow through 2036. Portugal has the strongest estimated growth at 10.1%, while Turkey and Italy are projected at 10.0%. Spain, Greece and Croatia are each projected at 9.9%. These destination forecasts are FMI estimates.

What is the outlook for travel from Germany to Spain?

Germany-origin tourism expenditure in Spain is projected to grow at an estimated 9.9% CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

What is the outlook for travel from Germany to Turkey?

Germany-origin tourism expenditure in Turkey is projected to grow at an estimated 10.0% CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

What is the outlook for travel from Germany to Italy?

Germany-origin tourism expenditure in Italy is projected to grow at an estimated 10.0% CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

What is the outlook for travel from Germany to Greece?

Germany-origin tourism expenditure in Greece is projected to grow at an estimated 9.9% CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

What is the outlook for travel from Germany to Portugal?

Germany-origin tourism expenditure in Portugal is projected to grow at an estimated 10.1% CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

What is the outlook for travel from Germany to Croatia?

Germany-origin tourism expenditure in Croatia is projected to grow at an estimated 9.9% CAGR from 2026 to 2036.

Who are the notable companies in the Germany outbound tourism market?

Tour operators, cruise lines and online platforms compete on itinerary breadth, route availability, pricing and support before and during a trip. TUI Germany, DER Touristik, Aida Cruises and TUI Cruises are the companies covered in this report; their offers range from integrated packages with airlines and hotels to a complete holiday at sea. When the components fit the itinerary, a package can simplify coordination, while separate bookings can offer more control.

The United Kingdom outbound travel market and India outbound tourism market offer perspectives on other origins.

Key Developments in the Germany Outbound Tourism Market

• On 17 August 2026, the Federal Statistical Office reported 105 million trips abroad by German residents in 2025, 8.3% fewer than in 2024.
• TUI reported third-quarter revenue of EUR 5,822 million (USD 6,695 million) on 12 August 2026 and reaffirmed its FY26 underlying EBIT guidance; booked revenue for summer 2026 in Germany stood 3% below the previous year.
• In October 2026, the German Travel Association reported a preliminary 4% rise in summer turnover and 2% more travellers, with long-haul turnover down 14%.
• Dertour reported in April 2026 that its 2025 billed turnover rose 18% to EUR 10.8 billion (USD 12.42 billion), and Rewe Group’s Touristik revenue grew 8.4% to EUR 3.8 billion (USD 4.37 billion) in the first half of 2026.
• AIDA Cruises said in March 2026 that it carried around 1.5 million guests in 2025, and it expects two new ships in spring 2030 and winter 2031/32.

Key Players in the Germany Outbound Tourism Market

• TUI Germany
• DER Touristik
• Aida Cruises
• TUI Cruises

Germany Outbound Tourism Market - Report Scope

Table 5: Report Scope for the Germany Outbound Tourism Market (coverage fields and definitions), 2026 to 2036

Coverage field	Report scope
Market breakdown	Purpose Type (Holiday or Leisure, Business, VFR, Other Purpose); Booking Channel (Online Booking, Phone Booking, In Person Booking); Tourist Type (International, Domestic); Tourism Type (Cultural & Heritage Tourism, Medical Tourism, Ecotourism or Sustainable Tourism, Sports Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Other Tourisms); Tour Type (Package Traveler, Independent Traveler, Tour Group); Consumer Orientation (Women, Men); Age Group (15 to 25 Years, 26 to 35 Years, 36 to 45 Years, 46 to 55 Years, 66 to 75 Years)
Quantitative Units	Revenue in USD billion and CAGR from 2026 to 2036
Market Definition	Outbound travel by German residents to international destinations, by purpose type, booking channel, tourist type, tourism type, tour type, consumer orientation and age group
Regions Covered	North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Balkan & Baltic Countries, Russia & Belarus, Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Middle East & Africa
Key Companies Covered	TUI Germany, DER Touristik, Aida Cruises and TUI Cruises
Forecast Period	2026 to 2036 (with 2025 historical baseline)
Approach	Combined primary interviews, secondary literature analysis, and top-down data triangulation
Destinations Profiled	Spain, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Croatia

Germany Outbound Tourism Market - Research Methodology

The market assessment combines primary interviews with industry participants and secondary research drawn from company disclosures, trade data and industry publications. Market size is built from supply-side and demand-side estimates and validated top-down, and segment shares and competitive positioning are checked through data triangulation before publication.

Germany Outbound Tourism Market by Segments

By Purpose Type

• Holiday or leisure
• Business
• Visits to friends and relatives
• Other purposes

By Booking Channel

• Online booking
• Phone booking
• In-person booking

By Tourist Type

• International
• Domestic

By Tourism Type

• Cultural and heritage tourism
• Medical tourism
• Ecotourism or sustainable tourism
• Sports tourism
• Wellness tourism
• Other tourism

By Tour Type

• Package traveler
• Independent traveler
• Tour group

By Consumer Orientation

• Women
• Men

By Age Group

• 15 to 25 years
• 26 to 35 years
• 36 to 45 years
• 46 to 55 years
• 66 to 75 years

Germany Outbound Tourism Market by Destination

• Spain
• Turkey
• Italy
• Greece
• Portugal
• Croatia

Research Sources and Bibliography

• [1] Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis). Weniger Reisen, aber Rekordwert bei mehrtägigen Inlandsreisen 2025. 17 August 2026.
• [2] TUI Group. Q3 FY2026 trading update: resilient Q3 underlying EBIT of EUR 234.6m at constant currency, FY26 guidance reaffirmed. 12 August 2026.
• [3] Eurostat. More than 90% of EU residents’ trips are inside the EU. 9 October 2026.
• [4] touristik aktuell. Sommerbilanz: Branche im Plus, Reisebüros im Minus. 15 October 2026.
• [5] touristik aktuell. Dertour: Starkes Umsatzplus im vergangenen Jahr. 23 April 2026.
• [6] Börsen-Zeitung. Rewe Group trotzt wirtschaftlichem Gegenwind. 15 October 2026.
• [7] AIDA Cruises. Kreuzfahrt und AIDA bleiben Wachstumstreiber in der Touristik. 3 March 2026.
• [8] Tageskarte. Reisewirtschaft verbucht mehr Gäste und Umsatz im Sommer. 15 October 2026.