Germany sees 73% surge in visitor overnights from India

Germany, over the past five years, has emerged to be the most popular destination among Indian travellers. The year-on-year growth for Germany-bound tourism in India is expected to touch 10 per cent this year.

The country is set to wrap this year up with over 4,500 visas being issued in India, with the latest data showing 4,000 visas issued already. “Germany continues to be the leading MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions) destination with 50 per cent of its Indian arrivals constituted by business-related travellers,” said Romit Theophilus, Director for India, German National Tourist Office.

Although Germany has always been perceived as a business destination, the trend is seen to be evolving. Since the setting up of the German National Tourist Office in 2006, Germany has witnessed a 73 per cent increase in its visitor overnights from India. Moreover, about 50 per cent of it is shared equally between the incentive and leisure travel, while the business travel continues to dominate with a lion’s share of 50 per cent.

Worldwide, Germany is the third most favoured destination in the EU after Spain and France. “In the outbound travel to Germany from India, with 15 per cent of the share, Bengaluru stands third after Mumbai and Delhi,” said Theophilus.

The reason that Germany has come to be such a popular destination for Indians, Theophilus says is the factor of affordability. “The minimum budget for a seven-day trip to Germany would start at around Rs 70,000.”