TBM Staff - Mumbai
India’s significance as a source market for international tourism is rapidly growing. According to Skift India, Indian spending on international travel grew by 17% annually between 2008 and 2019, far outpacing global tourism trends. Skift forecasts a 230% growth in outbound travel from India by 2027, placing India in the top five global tourism markets.
In response, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is intensifying its efforts to attract Indian travellers. Petra Hedorfer, CEO of GNTB, emphasised their strategy of building connections between Indian demand and Germany’s tourism offerings. The number of Indian overnight stays in Germany rose by 40% from 2015 to 2019, with the GNTB launching an India-specific marketing initiative and the upcoming GNTB India Digital Travel Knowledge Tour in 2025 to boost industry partnerships.
Germany’s inbound tourism from India has shown strong growth, recovering faster than other Asian countries post-pandemic. In 2023, Indian travellers accounted for 826,000 overnight stays, a 33% increase from 2022, and contributed 900 million euros to Germany’s economy. Tourism forecasts predict 1.6 million Indian overnight stays in Germany annually by the decade’s end.
The GNTB is also launching special campaigns tailored to the Indian market, such as the “Live like a Local” influencer project, showcasing Germany’s culture through Indian influencers’ social media, and a wedding campaign targeting the booming Indian destination wedding segment.
To further strengthen ties, the GNTB will launch its second India Pool in 2025, a joint investment with the German travel industry to enhance Germany’s visibility and tap deeper into the Indian market’s potential.
