The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is expanding its outreach in India. At a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the GNTB, shared insights on the board’s strategy for future growth in India. “We have been active in the Indian market for two decades through a sales agency. In 2015, we launched an India pool to support German partners, which significantly boosted Indian tourism to Germany,” Hedorfer said. The number of overnight stays by Indian visitors in Germany jumped by nearly 40% between 2015 and 2019, from 693,000 to 962,000.
To build on this success, the GNTB is launching a new edition of the India Pool in 2025, combining market-specific initiatives to strengthen ties between Indian travelers and German tourism offerings. The board is also planning a Digital Travel Knowledge Tour next spring, where top managers from Germany’s travel industry will meet key Indian tech and travel companies. This high-profile delegation will visit Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai to foster collaborations and explore the evolving travel needs of India’s digital-savvy consumers.
Indian tourism to Germany has been on a steady rise, even rebounding quickly after the pandemic. In 2023, Indian tourists accounted for 826,000 overnight stays in Germany, a 33% increase from 2022, with a recovery rate of 86% – the fastest among Asian countries. Projections from Tourism Economics suggest that Indian tourists will generate 1.6 million overnight stays annually in Germany by the end of the decade.
In terms of economic impact, Indian travelers brought €900 million in total turnover to Germany in 2023, according to IPK International. With this trend, India is positioned to become a significant market not just for visitor numbers but also for value creation in Germany’s tourism sector.
The GNTB is launching several campaigns to cater to the specific needs and interests of Indian travelers. One such initiative is the ‘Live Like a Local’ project, where Indian influencers experience local German customs and traditions and share their insights on social media. This project taps into the digital proficiency of Indian tourists and provides them with an interactive, personalized travel guide tailored to their preferences.
Germany is also eyeing India’s booming destination wedding market. Recognizing the lavish nature of Indian weddings, the GNTB has created a special campaign targeting couples who want to celebrate their weddings in Germany’s picturesque locations.
The GNTB is set to relaunch its India Pool in 2025 to deepen its efforts in this fast-growing market. By partnering with the German travel industry, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the GNTB aims to boost awareness of Germany as a premier travel destination and fully harness the potential of Indian outbound tourism.
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