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To attract more Indian travelers, GNTO India continues to promote Germany’s diverse offerings, including its cultural heritage, romantic destinations, seasonal experiences, and curated travel packages tailored to Indian preferences
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With these initiatives and easing of visa processes, Germany is confident of crossing the 10 lakh overnight stay mark in 2026
Germany is aiming to welcome 10 lakh overnight stays by Indian tourists in 2026, after narrowly missing the milestone in 2025, according to the German National Tourist Office (GNTO) India. The country is optimistic about steadily increasing Indian visitor numbers over the coming years.
Romit Theophilus, Director of Marketing & Sales at GNTO India, told PTI that Germany expects to close 2025 with around 9.6 lakh overnight stays by Indian travelers. “We aim for a growth of 10 percent year on year, at least until 2030. Our immediate goal is to first reach one million overnight stays and eventually double that figure to two million,” he said.
GNTO India had initially hoped to surpass the 10 lakh mark in 2025, but challenges such as visa delays and competition from other international destinations prevented this. Nevertheless, the figure of 9.6 lakh still represents an improvement over pre-pandemic numbers, with 2019 seeing similar growth levels.
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Visa delays remain a significant factor, though not the sole reason for missing the target
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“We experienced longer wait times for visas, which we plan to streamline in 2026 with the support of the German embassy,” Theophilus explained
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Additionally, some Indian travelers opted for alternative destinations this year
Germany is also witnessing a rise in Indian student visitors, with around 60,000 students currently in the country. Their families often travel to visit them, contributing to the growing number of overnight stays. Special events, such as Indian weddings held in Germany, are expected to further boost visitor numbers next year.
Theophilus highlighted that Indian tourists are spending more time in Germany, with an average stay exceeding nine nights. According to GNTO data, 7,75,294 overnight stays were recorded from January to October 2025. In 2024, Indian visitors contributed approximately €1.1 billion to the German economy.
