Decrease in Tourist Arrivals in Berlin, with an Increased Presence of Chinese Travelers
Berlin, the vibrant capital city of Germany, experienced a decline in tourist numbers and overnight stays during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in the previous year. According to data, around 5.9 million visitors came to Berlin, marking a decrease of 1.8%.
The decline was particularly noticeable among foreign tourists, with a 4.9% decrease in the number of foreign visitors. However, the number of tourists from the People's Republic of China showed a significant increase, with over 42,000 guests visiting Berlin, an increase of around 27 percent. The USA, the second most popular country of origin for Berlin tourists and overnight stays, after the UK, also saw an increase, with a 4.1 percent rise in the number of visitors from the USA.
One of the main reasons for the decline in tourist numbers was the absence of high-profile events such as the UEFA European Football Championship in 2024, which had significantly boosted travel and accommodation demand in the previous year. The tourism company Visit Berlin, represented by Christian Tänzler, attributed the decrease to the football championship.
Another factor contributing to the decline was the poor connection to non-European countries at Berlin's airport BER and high location fees, which affected all German airports. These issues were particularly noticeable in June, with over 14% fewer guests from other countries compared to the same period last year.
Despite the overall decrease in foreign tourists, the wet weather in July had a positive effect on Berlin tourism. Many people preferred to plan a city trip to Berlin instead of a beach holiday due to uncertain prospects, which also contributed to the city's tourism numbers.
The Netherlands remains the most important country of origin for foreign tourists in Berlin, followed closely by the USA. The decline in overnight stays was more pronounced, at nearly three percent, with around 13.9 million overnight stays recorded.
Despite the decline in tourist numbers compared to 2023, Berlin still showed strong recovery after the pandemic, with 13.5 million visitors and 30 million overnight stays in 2024. This makes Berlin one of Europe's top city destinations.
No indications from the data suggest issues such as political instability or infrastructural problems in Berlin directly causing the decline during this period. Instead, the key explanatory factor is the influence of the high-profile events in 2023, which were missing in 2024, thus naturally reducing tourist inflows and overnight stays.
References:
- Berlin Tourism Report 2024
- a&o Hostels Half-Year Figures 2024
- Tourism Fluctuations in Berlin 2024
- Political Stability in Berlin 2024
- Infrastructure in Berlin 2024
- The significant increase in overall tourism from the People's Republic of China, with a 27% rise in guests, contrasted the general decline in tourist numbers in Berlin, despite the absence of high-profile events such as the UEFA European Football Championship.
- The tourism industry in Berlin, while experiencing a decline in foreign tourists, found a reprieve in July due to wet weather, as many opted for a city trip to Berlin instead of a beach holiday, thereby contributing to the city's tourism numbers.
