2021 Traveling Trends in Germany Revealed

Germany is among the top travel markets in the world, so it is important to know what trends prevail here. For this purpose, ITB Berlin Now and Global Consumer Survey by Statista decided to collect data and try to predict the state of the tourism industry in 2021. They also identified the most prominent technologies that are already blooming or set to rise in the coming years.

First of all, it is important to mention that the study expects an upturn in the industry after the tough pandemic year. When asked about the preferred holiday types, Germans remained mostly loyal to their traditional vacations. The survey held in 2018 identified beach holidays as the most preferred vacation type among Germans aged 18 to 64. All-inclusive hotels in Mallorca, Ibiza, and other popular destinations were particularly popular. Visiting friends and short weekend-long city stays were the second and third most popular vacation types.

While some holiday types have become less popular due to the current pandemic restrictions, the popularity of many other activities has increased drastically over the last year. Various outdoor activities, vacations in the mountains and lake regions, and camping attract more people than before these days. They swapped rankings with sightseeing and shopping tours that are naturally less popular in the current situation. The leader – beach holidays – was still the top choice of German travelers in 2020.

Just like in many other countries, the pandemic made outdoor activities more popular in Germany. Google searches for ‘cycling tours’ and ‘hiking’ were higher in 2020 compared to 2019. Approximately 2 million Germans (58% women and 42% men, the average age is 32) are interested in hiking with southern Germany taking the lead in this area. Sustainable travel is another hot trend of recent years. The target audience is roughly 3 million Germans, which is twice more than in 2018.

The coronavirus pandemic made people more careful about their money. The number of Germans searching for more affordable vacations increased last year. In the 2018 survey, 29% of the respondents agreed with the following statement “I always look for the cheapest offer when traveling”. The number of people who agree with this statement increased to 35% in 2020. Finally, technology becomes an essential part of any travel. The number of Germans using the smartphone as a travel and vacation guide has grown to 39%.