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Local Germany
3 days ago
- Climate
- Local Germany
Inside Germany: A sunny forecast, travel tips and a dramatic change in foreign policy
Inside Germany is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in Germany that you might've missed. It's published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article. Is it summer yet? Beside one, admittedly intense, heatwave at the beginning of July , summer in Germany this year has very summery so far. People who have spent more than a couple summers in the country will be aware that a few weeks of cold weather and rain, even in the middle of July or August, are not uncommon. But the more-than-month-long stream of grey weather days, punctuated by chilly evenings and thunderstorms have really gotten to some people. 'We've been robbed', wrote Local writer Tom Pugh this week, lamenting the loss of summer sunshine that meteorologists had practically promised us a few months back, at the end of a particularly warm and dry spring. He was joined by the likes of Jordan Prince , whose often humorous videos about life in Germany have gained him a significant online following. Fortunately for them, and everyone else who prefers their summer with a bit a sunshine, the next wave of warm weather has begun. On Saturday, the German weather service (DWD) has forecast high temperatures in the lower 30s in much of southern Germany, as well as Dresden and Berlin. And the warm weather is expected to stick around for a few days. High temperatures are expected to hover around 30C in southern Germany, and in central parts of the country they are expected to rise up to around 34C by Tuesday. In northern, coastal regions temperatures will remain cooler with high temperatures ranging between 22C and 28C through the top of the week. Advertisement Tips for your holidays Someone who just recently moved to Germany told me that his whole street (in a very central Berlin neighbourhood) seems to have suddenly emptied out. He was wondering what strange event he missed that could have caused the quiet exodus. I told him, it's probably just August - the month when it seems like the whole country packs up and goes on vacation. For the uninitiated, this guide to vacationing like a German can help you really soak in the entire Ur laub experience. A woman floats on Lake Garda, a lake in northern Italy that is a popular destination for German tourists in the summer. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Reinhardt And if you plan on flying home with a bag full of souvenirs, you can check this list to find out exactly how many bottles of Spanish wine, or Italian handbags, you can bring back duty-free. Whatever you do, be advised not to try and pull your kids out of school early to extend your vacation period or beat the crowds. Media reports on Friday highlighted how local authorities can issue fines against families that do so. Reportedly, 303 fines for the "unauthorized extension of holidays" were issued in Hamburg this year - a new record number of violations for the northern city-state. READ ALSO: LISTED - The new direct flights from Germany this summer Five of Germany's busiest tourist attractions and where to go instead Advertisement No more German weapons for use in Gaza Germany is stopping the export of weapons to Israel for use in the Gaza Strip, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Friday. The Chancellor's announcement came shortly after Israel said it would "take control" of Gaza City, a plan which sparked immediate criticism from governments around the world. The arms export freeze marks a dramatic change of course for the German government, which has long been one of Israel's staunchest international allies as it has sought to atone for the Holocaust. Recent days and weeks have seen leaders, both political and cultural within Germany, show signs that they are increasingly willing to speak out against the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Germany's Foreign Minister began with somewhat cryptic comments, such as saying that Israel was "increasingly in the minority" on the issue of Palestinian statehood , after allies like France suggested they were ready to do so. Since last week, a growing list of German celebrities - including pop-star Nina Chuba and Israeli Golden Globe winner Ari Folman - signed an open letter to Chancellor Merz urging him to to stop arms deliveries. Germany is known to be the second biggest supplier of weapons to Israel, behind the US. Deliveries from Germany have included firearms, ammunition, weapons parts and special armoured vehicles, among other equipment, the government said in June in response to a parliamentary request.
Hospitality Net
05-06-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
German Summer 2025 Travel Boom: Record Bookings Eclipse Climate Concerns
The German travel market is in great shape for the 2025 summer season, with demand for holiday travel bigger than ever. However, under the impact of a weak economy and rising prices, the consequences of climate change are increasingly being ignored. ITB Berlin, the World's Leading Travel Trade Show, puts the latest developments into perspective and focuses on the latest challenges and opportunities in the travel market. Trade wars, tariffs, sluggish growth: uncertainty and stagnation are the dominant themes of the 2025 global economy. By contrast, German consumer confidence is proving to be surprisingly robust, at least where travel and relaxation are concerned. Despite the difficult economic climate in Germany, summer holidays remain a priority for its citizens. According to estimates by the German Travel Association (DRV), Germans plan to spend around 85 billion euros on pre-holiday travel services in 2025 – a significant six per cent increase over the previous year. The organised travel market with package and tailormade tours is growing particularly strongly. The industry expects that over the course of the year spending on tour company products will reach 40 billion euros, about seven per cent more than last year. Thus, organised tours are almost on a par with custom holiday services. An important growth driver in the German travel market is the demand for cruises. In 2024 it reached a new record, with 3.8 million people taking river and ocean cruise trips, a figure which this year is expected to rise again. Targets, prices and new dynamics When it comes to the holiday destinations that Germans are choosing for summer 2025 there are few surprises. Popular warm-weather destinations on the Mediterranean are experiencing high demand again, and early booking numbers are continuing to rise. Families in particular are ensuring that Turkey with its wide-ranging all-inclusive tours is doing even better business again. It remains this year's top-selling package holiday destination, followed by Spain, with Greece in third place. 'Travelling tops consumers' wish lists again this year – despite all the economic and geopolitical challenges. It seems travelling and holidays are the last thing Germans can do without', says DRV president Norbert Fiebig. The optimism within the German travel market is at odds with international trends, which compared with last year have deteriorated in many areas of the tourism value chain. 'The significant rise globally in flight and accommodation costs as well as a weak economy in many countries are increasingly impacting the market', says Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of UN Tourism. Nonetheless, the German market's high booking volumes cannot hide the fact that the consequences of inflation are also being felt among a nation previously described as the 'world's travel champions'. Despite around a quarter of Germans planning to spend more money on their holidays this year, they are becoming increasingly sensitive to the cost when choosing their destinations. Countries traditionally offering cheaper holidays such as Bulgaria and Tunisia are gaining in popularity. Egypt, where price increases have so far been moderate, is also witnessing higher demand. Less established and comparatively inexpensive destinations in the Balkans such as Montenegro and Albania are also reporting slight increases in bookings. According to a survey by the ADAC Travel Monitor, for one in three Germans saving money has become a necessity for planning their summer holiday. At the same time, the proportion of consumers keen on taking a holiday but barely able to finance it is growing. In 2025 around 32 per cent of Germans will not be going on a major holiday trip. In 2022 this figure was only 17 per cent. 'Price rises are damping consumer confidence and putting a strain on the disposable income of private households. Nevertheless, we see the travel industry's figures pointing upwards. Should the negative economic trends continue however, this will also impact travel behaviour', cautions DRV president Fiebig. Sustainability versus reality In a situation where prices are increasingly determining consumers' holiday choices, quality aspects are becoming less important. Sustainability criteria, such as considering a trip's carbon footprint or the transport options at one's destination, continue to be a low booking priority. According to the ADAC Travel Monitor, only around 20 per cent of people are willing to pay a premium for extra sustainability options such as local products. At the same time and more than ever, people want a perfect local environment. 18 per cent of all respondents said they take the risk of possible natural disasters such as forest fires, floods or other weather extremes into account when planning their holidays. In 2022 this figure was only 14 per cent. Such concerns are likely to grow in future under the impact of climate change. 'In addition to current geopolitical tensions, it is the increase in weather extremes that is above all significantly impacting the development of global tourism', says Executive Director of UN Tourism Urosevic. Click here for the video interview with Executive Director of UN Tourism Zoritsa Urosevic on the Risks and Opportunities in the International Travel Market. However, climate-related flooding events such as in the Valencia region, or unusual heatwaves in parts of the Mediterranean in the summer of last year have so far only had a marginal impact on booking behaviour. There is little evidence of travellers avoiding the Mediterranean due to the growing risk of extreme weather and switching to northern Europe for example, although this is probably also due to the considerable difference in prices at Scandinavian and southern European holiday destinations. The industry has a responsibility Current booking behaviour confirms a trend that is likely to increase in the face of economic crises and stagnating purchasing power. A growing number of holidaymakers are torn between their conscience and reality. Despite many being increasingly aware of the need for sustainable action, this is barely reflected in real terms. For travellers, what is much more important than climate action is how attractive a destination is as well as the cost – a phenomenon that has been scientifically termed the 'attitude behaviour gap'. Against this backdrop, it is unlikely that pricing alone can persuade holidaymakers to choose more sustainable travel behaviour. Heinz-Dieter Quack, Professor of Tourism Management at Ostfalia Hochschule, is among the scientists who believe the responsibility for solving this problem lies with tourism industry. 'Sustainability is not driven by demand. Instead of holidaymakers, it is tour operators who must lead the way', says Quack. According to him, it is not just about creating sustainable concepts and incorporating them into tourism products, but also about making them visible as part of a corporate marketing strategy. In his view, tour operators must also address problems such as overtourism. Here, digital solutions for regulating tourist flows and in extreme cases banning undesirable tourist activities could help to protect the environment and the quality of people's stays at destinations.
