BERLIN — Germany’s travelers are planning further ahead and venturing farther afield. According to the German Travel Association (DRV), bookings for the upcoming winter season 2025/26 reveal a clear trend toward long-haul destinations, as more vacationers seek to escape the cold and extend their summer abroad.
“More Germans than ever before are choosing to prolong the summer in distant lands,” said Norbert Fiebig, President of the DRV. “The appetite for long-distance travel this winter exceeds even last year’s strong levels.”
Long-Haul Travel Reaches New Heights
Winter has always been the prime season for faraway escapes, but demand for November 2025 through April 2026 is rising even higher.
According to data from Travel Data + Analytics (TDA), long-haul travel bookings show an 11 percent increase in revenue and 8 percent more travelers compared with the same period last year.
The strongest growth is seen in:
- Africa: +25% revenue
- Southeast Asia: +16%
- Indian Ocean and Middle East: commanding nearly three-quarters of total long-haul turnover
Demand for the Caribbean and Central/South America remains stable, while the United States lags behind with a 27 percent drop in winter bookings.
Cruises and Mediterranean Destinations on the Rise
Closer to home, the Canary Islands and Eastern Mediterranean destinations — including Egypt and Turkey — each posted a 10 percent increase in revenue.
The cruise sector, traditionally one of the strongest growth drivers of the German travel economy, continues to expand with 8 percent revenue growth. Cruises now represent 30 percent of all early winter bookings.
Early Bookings Signal Confidence in Package Travel
Flexibility remains a priority for travelers. Many customers are choosing “Flex Packages” that allow free changes or cancellations up to shortly before departure.
“It’s encouraging to see how strong early bookings have become,” said Fiebig. “Package holidays continue to gain in popularity due to their excellent value, reliable crisis management, and financial protection.”
Overall, winter bookings across all destinations and travel types show a 9 percent increase in revenue and a 6 percent rise in traveler numbers compared with last year.
Summer 2025: Families Favor Affordable Sun Destinations
Strong Demand in the Eastern Mediterranean
While the 2025 summer season officially runs until October 31, preliminary data already show solid growth. According to TDA, total summer revenues are up 6 percent, with traveler numbers rising 1 percent compared with 2024.
Destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean, including Greece and Turkey, recorded a 9 percent sales increase and now account for nearly half of all summer revenues.
Long-haul destinations gained 6 percent, while the Western Mediterranean (mainly Spain) and cruises each saw 3 percent growth.
Bulgaria, Thailand, and Egypt Climb the Ranks
Affordable destinations performed especially well:
- Bulgaria: +41%
- Thailand: +18%
- Egypt: +17%
The United States, however, lost momentum, with summer revenues falling nearly 20 percent from the previous year.
Despite slower growth of 6 percent, Turkey remains the top family destination for the summer.
Travel Demand in Numbers (as of August 2025)
| Season | Revenue Growth | Traveler Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 (May–Oct) | +6% | +1% |
| Winter 2025/26 (Nov–Apr) | +9% | +6% |
About the Data
The analysis is based on vacation sales recorded through travel agencies and major online travel portals offering tour operator products.
Excluded are direct bookings made via airlines, rail operators, hotels, or platforms such as Booking.com or Airbnb.
References to the “total market” refer to organized tour operator travel.
About Travel Data + Analytics (TDA)
Travel Data + Analytics (TDA) acquired the GfK travel sales panel in 2019 and operates a self-learning analytics platform that provides timely, representative insights into Germany’s travel market.
Its intelligent database enables dynamic analysis while maintaining methodological continuity and comparability over time.
About the DRV
The German Travel Association (DRV) represents the collective voice of Germany’s travel industry, one of the nation’s most significant economic sectors employing around three million people.
With thousands of member companies — from travel agencies and tour operators to related service providers — the DRV has united the industry for 75 years under the motto:
“The Travel Industry. All Destinations. One Voice.”