Germany For The Tourist : Germany

Germany is an attractive travel destination. It offers tour-jsts a remarkable variety of beautiful towns and landscapes, inviting them to journey back into the country’s long and rich history or experience every aspect of its modern life. Oases of peace can be found just as easily as places pulsating with activity. Many Germans are aware of this as well: More than half of them spend their holidays in their native land. 11 million foreign guests visited Germany in 1996, spending about DM 25 billion while they were in the country.

With an annual turnover of about DM 200 billion, the tourism industry is an important economic factor in the Federal Republic, ranking ahead of the chemical industry and on par with both the mechanical engineering and automobile industries. Approximately two million people (including part-time and seasonal help) are currently employed in the tourism industry and immediately related areas. Nearly 300 million overnight stays were registered in 1996.