Preliminary data from the German Federal Statistical Office indicates that foreign tourists booked 83.8 million overnight stays in Germany in 2025, a decrease from the previous year by 1.8%. This drop was attributed to special circumstances related to the UEFA European Championship and significant concert events which increased tourist numbers in 2024. The German National Tourist Board noted that factors such as weakened purchasing power due to escalating global conflicts and a downturn in business travel also negatively impacted inbound tourism rates for the year.

In December 2025 alone, tourists booked 6.7 million overnight stays, reflecting a 4% increase compared to the same month in the previous year. This indicates a seasonal bounce back despite the overall decline for the year, showcasing the resilience of the German tourism sector as it adapts to changing conditions. The increase in December suggests that holiday travel and festive events continued to attract visitors even amid larger economic challenges.

Officials from the German tourism industry remain hopeful and assert that despite the current downturn, Germany is still recognized among the world's leading tourist destinations. They advocate for ongoing investment in tourism infrastructure and promotional campaigns to recover and thrive in the competitive global marketplace, particularly as they prepare for future events that are expected to draw significant numbers of tourists back to Germany.