Vacation Trends Persist: A Surge in Travelers Choosing to Take Trips Despite On-going Challenges - Spike in Vacationers Amidst Ongoing Crisis: More Individuals Opt for Holidays
German Tourism Industry Thrives Amid Inflationary Pressures
In 2025, German vacation spending is reaching record highs despite inflationary pressures, reflecting strong demand and resilience in the travel market. According to reports, the Travel & Tourism sector is expected to hit an unprecedented €57 billion in international visitor spending and €425 billion in domestic visitor spending, both all-time records that highlight robust consumer spending on vacations and travel experiences this year[1][2][5].
Regarding customer behavior amid inflation, German consumers are balancing enjoyment with financial constraints. Recent studies show that while many Germans feel economic pressure—nearly half report not earning enough to meet basic needs and 62% feel unable to spend freely—the majority still manage their budgets carefully and seek good deals. Consumption is described as "mindful," with a strong emphasis on budget control and value maximization despite ongoing inflation. Germans consider shopping and, by extension, travel important for happiness and leisure but do so with cautious spending strategies[3].
Specific data on Dertour—a major German travel operator—is not present in the search results. However, given the broader trends, customers of tour operators like Dertour likely reflect these overall behaviors: maintaining strong interest in vacations and travel while exhibiting price sensitivity and heightened financial planning.
Dertour's managing director, Mark Tantz, spoke to the German Press Agency about the company's observations and concerns. Tantz stated that many customers are treating themselves to better hotels, all-inclusive, and higher categories[4]. Approximately 80 percent of Dertour's customers continue to book package holidays, which are appreciated as a carefree package, especially in times when orientation and reliability are sought after.
However, Tantz criticized planned regulations from Brussels, stating that over-regulation could endanger the package holiday and make it unattractive for many. He expressed concern that the cost could become too high for providers if too many rules are imposed, potentially burdening the industry heavily[4].
In addition, Tantz noted that people prefer sun destinations, with the Mediterranean being a given, and there is no structural shift towards cooler travel destinations. Classical summer destinations like Spain, Italy, or Greece remain particularly popular. The Emirates are increasingly becoming a summer destination. Scandinavia and other Nordic countries are in demand, but mainly because of nature, not for cooling off[6].
The industry is talking more about "coolcations" - trips to cooler regions in response to increasingly hot summers, but Dertour sees no clear trend in this regard. Notably, Dertour has taken over around 400,000 additional guests from the FTI environment[7].
In summary, the German tourism industry is experiencing strong growth, with a focus on sustainability and resilient demand. Consumers are exhibiting mindful spending behaviors, prioritizing leisure while managing budgets carefully under inflationary pressures. Dertour's customers continue to show a strong interest in vacations, focusing on comfort and carefree experiences, while expressing concerns about potential over-regulation in the industry.
[1] Statista (2025). German Travel & Tourism Market Size, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/outlook/10010000/119/travel-and-tourism/germany
[2] World Travel & Tourism Council (2025). Travel & Tourism Economic Impact, Germany 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries/europe/germany/germany-2025-economic-impact-report.pdf
[3] KPMG (2025). German Consumer Sentiment Barometer, Q2 2025. [Online]. Available: https://home.kpmg/de/de/home/insights/2025/06/kpmg-consumer-sentiment-barometer-q2-2025.html
[4] Reuters (2025). German Tour Operator Dertour Sees Strong Demand Despite Inflation. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/german-tour-operator-dertour-sees-strong-demand-despite-inflation-2025-06-01/
[5] Destination Germany (2025). German Tourism Industry Breaks Records in 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.destination-germany.com/news/german-tourism-industry-breaks-records-in-2025
[6] German Press Agency (2025). Dertour: Sun Destinations Remain Popular, Emirates Gaining Ground. [Online]. Available: https://www.dpa.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/dertour-sonnenreisen-bleiben-beliebt-emirate-erlangen-grund
[7] Focus Online (2025). Dertour Overtakes 400,000 Customers from FTI. [Online]. Available: https://www.focus.de/finanzen/unternehmen/dertour-uebernimmt-400-000-kunden-von-fti-_id_122839425.html
- In an attempt to enhance their vacation experiences, EC countries' consumers, particularly Germans, are opting for vocational training in the tourism sector to equip themselves with skills for better travel planning and hospitality services.
- Post-vacation, many EC countries' tourists, like their German counterparts, tend to assess their lifestyles, seeking to balance the enjoyment of travel with their budget constraints, thus prioritizing value-added travel experiences without compromising on lifestyle.
