Germany aims to double Indian tourist stays by 2030

Germany is positioning India as a strategic growth market, with the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) targeting a significant expansion in visitor numbers over the coming years. The country recorded 9,28,635 overnight stays by Indian visitors in 2025, representing a 3.4 per cent increase from the previous year, according to GNTB CEO Petra Hedorfer.

The upward trajectory has continued in 2026, with 5,37,565 overnight stays logged during the January-July period—a 2.9 per cent year-on-year increase. July alone saw 85,400 overnight stays, up 3.6 per cent compared to the same month in 2025. These figures underscore consistent interest from Indian travellers in German tourism offerings.

Hedorfer said the longer-term ambition to double annual overnight stays from India reflects confidence in the market's potential. The growth strategy responds to evolving travel preferences among Indian visitors, who increasingly seek immersive, experience-driven itineraries rather than traditional sightseeing circuits concentrated in major cities.

Germany's tourism sector has recognized India's emerging middle and upper-middle class as a key demographic, with rising disposable incomes and appetite for international travel. The GNTB's targeted approach aims to showcase Germany's diverse attractions beyond its metropolitan centres, including cultural heritage, natural landscapes, and experiential tourism offerings.