36% of overnight stays in Austria by German guests
German Tourists Dominate Overnight Stays in Austria, EU Data Shows
Source: Federal Statistical Office Germany · August 18, 2026 at 8:31 AM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 18 AUGUST 2026 —
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German Tourists Dominate Overnight Stays in Austria, EU Data Shows
Market Impact
KUALA LUMPUR – German tourists accounted for the largest share of overnight stays in Austrian accommodations in 2024, with 35.9% of all bookings, according to data from Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) based on Eurostat figures. Croatia followed with 22.5%, while the Netherlands ranked third at 19.2%. In both Austria and Croatia, German visitors outnumbered domestic travelers, with Austrians making up 28.3% and Croatians just 9.3% of overnight stays.
The trend reflects Germany’s strong outbound travel demand, with German tourists representing the largest foreign visitor group in nearly half of all EU countries, including Italy, France, and the Czech Republic. Across the EU, German travelers contributed to 11.6% of all overnight stays in 2024. However, their presence was minimal in Romania (1.6%), Slovakia (2.5%), and Finland (3.1%). In Spain, German tourists accounted for 10.9% of overnight stays, slightly below the EU average.
Outside the EU, Germany remained a key source market, with 14.9% of overnight stays in Turkey attributed to German visitors, followed by 9.9% in Switzerland and 6.3% in Norway. In absolute terms, Italy led with 65.3 million overnight stays by German tourists, followed by Spain (54.9 million), Austria (47.1 million), the Netherlands (27.9 million), and France (21.3 million).
The data, sourced from Eurostat, covers overnight stays in hotels, guesthouses, pensions, holiday rentals, and camping sites but excludes stays in clinics, rehabilitation centers, and training homes. It includes all types of travelers—leisure, business, and conference visitors—without distinguishing between purposes.
For Malaysia, where tourism contributes significantly to GDP, the dominance of German tourists in European destinations highlights the importance of diversifying source markets. While Malaysia attracts visitors from Europe, including Germany, the reliance on a single major market could pose risks. Industry observers note that Malaysia’s tourism sector has been expanding its reach to include Middle Eastern and Asian markets to reduce dependency on traditional sources.
Looking ahead, the sustained demand from German travelers suggests continued opportunities for European tourism operators, particularly in Austria and Croatia. However, with shifting travel preferences and economic uncertainties, destinations may need to adapt their marketing strategies to maintain growth. Further details on Malaysia’s tourism performance in relation to these trends are not yet available.