Vacation between crisis and coast: New opportunities for tourism in Germany

Especially in times of international uncertainty, travel experts and the tourism coordinator of the federal government see...Christoph Ploßnew opportunities for holidays in Germany. In light of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and growing concerns about global security, Ploß expects an increased demand for vacation travel, especially to domestic coastal regions such as the North and Baltic Seas. This could provide a significant boost to German destinations and change the travel behavior of many.

The most important points at a glance

• The war in the Middle East is leading to an increased sense of insecurity regarding long-distance travel and is negatively impacting tourism in many destination countries.
• Almost 20 percent of German air travelers have already canceled or rebooked their flights due to fuel shortages, or have had their flights canceled by the airline.
• In the first quarter of 2026, there was an increase of 2.5 percent compared to the previous year, with 86.7 million overnight stays.
• The federal government is planning targeted support measures for German tourism businesses, including more flexible working hours and infrastructure investments.
• The importance of tourism in the German economy should be deliberately further strengthened.

Tourism as a winner of geopolitical upheavals

The attacks in the Iran war on energy facilities and airports in the Middle East are increasing uncertainty in traditional holiday regions, especially in the Gulf countries. This was recently highlighted by the Foreign Office with an updated travel warning: holiday destinations that previously had high demand are temporarily considered unsafe, making German holiday destinations appear attractive. In particular, Ploß expects a record summer at the North and Baltic Seas, supported by the trend of avoiding uncertainties and traveling within one's own country.

New pathways through government support and flexibilization

The federal government aims to promote the tourism industry in a more sustainable way by 2026. The focus is on the flexibility of working hours, which particularly benefits businesses that are often dependent on seasons and weather. Additional investments in the expansion of highways and rail networks are also planned to ensure accessibility to remote regions. According to the Federal Statistical Office, not only vacationers benefit from this, but also around three million employees in the hospitality, gastronomy, and leisure sectors.

"As serious as the impacts of the crisis in the Middle East are for many industries, they also present opportunities for tourism in Germany," explains Christoph Ploß.

Overnight figures and trends in tourism in Germany

The current figures from the Federal Statistical Office confirm the trend: In the first quarter of 2026, guests spent 86.7 million nights at German travel destinations – a clear increase compared to the previous year. Notably, while the number of foreign guests only slightly increased, the number of domestic overnight stays rose by 2.9 percent, the strongest growth. Tourism experts see this as evidence of the sustainable attractiveness of the regions between the Alps, the Spreewald, and the German coasts.

What does the future hold for German holiday regions?

With the planned initiatives, the Federal Government acknowledges the growing economic role of tourism in Germany. Crucial will be how providers can take advantage of the new opportunities in the coming months and how flexibly the industry responds to further global disruptions. In particular, the upcoming summers could be decisive for rural areas and coastal towns in establishing Germany permanently as a top travel destination.