- German travel industry revenue rose 4pc in summer 2026.
- Traveller numbers increased by 2pc.
- Last-minute bookings in August jumped 11pc.
- Turkey, Greece, Spain, Italy and Egypt recorded strong revenue growth.
- Winter 2026/27 traveller numbers track 6pc lower.
The German Travel Association reports that summer season revenue rose by 4pc compared with the previous year, with traveller numbers up by 2pc. Last-minute bookings helped the industry overcome challenges including the Middle East conflict, higher aviation fuel costs, heatwaves and wildfires. Combined with the preceding winter season, total revenue is expected to grow by 3pc, taking operators above €44bn for the first time.
Late bookings in August jumped 11pc compared to the previous year, covering 98pc of total revenue from the prior summer season by the end of August. The Mediterranean led demand, with strong revenue growth for Turkey (up 12pc), Greece (up 8pc), Spain (up 5pc), Italy (up 17pc) and Egypt (up 18pc). Cruises and organised package holidays continued to outperform independent travel.
While summer finished strong with 4pc growth, the winter 2026/27 booking outlook has slowed. Winter traveller numbers track 6pc lower due to rising operational and aviation costs. The association has called for lower aviation taxes and fees to support domestic airport traffic.
