As a leading name in the travel and tourism sector, DERTOUR Group shares its latest insights into the European travel market at the international travel and trade show, ITB, in Berlin: Operating in 16 European source markets[1] with over 130 travel companies and boasting a team of over 10,000 professionals, the Group was able to profit from a strong demand for travel in 2024, leading to a positive forecast for the year 2025.
“After a period of recovery, our European travel markets are showing accelerated growth. Fuelled by an increasing emphasis on experiences over material goods, travel demand across Europe keeps buzzing. This is reflected in significantly increasing guest numbers and a rising demand for long-haul trips and high-quality travel with value for money,” says Christoph Debus, who took on the role of CEO of the DERTOUR Group on March 1. “I am very excited to join the DERTOUR Group at this time with a clear ambition to further drive the sustainable and profitable growth of our Group in the international tourism market.”
Package holidays on the rise: Almost 20% more guests in 2024
In 2024, DERTOUR Group saw a 19% increase in European guest numbers over the previous year, reflecting the Group’s commitment to delivering seamless travel experiences for its guests. “The booking analysis reveals the growing popularity of package holidays among travellers seeking convenient and hassle-free travel options. Along with fair prices and easy cost controlling options, package holidays are on the rise again”, explains Leif Vase Larsen, CEO International at DERTOUR Group.
The significant increase in guest numbers in 2024 was also supported by developments in the German market, which recorded the highest guest growth among the Group’s European markets with +23% year-over-year – not surprisingly, as Germans are well-known as the world champions of travel. In addition to the rising demand for long-haul travel, the market exit of FTI[2] also impacted the German summer balance. “We responded quickly to the circumstances last summer by expanding capacities and providing additional offers in key destinations such as Türkiye, Egypt, and Dubai,” explains Ingo Burmester, CEO Central Europe at DERTOUR Group. “Regardless of this, our guest numbers were already in double digits above the previous year even before the FTI exit. This clearly shows: The demand for summer vacations was even greater than the previous year.”
Winter travel boom 2024/25: Nearly every third guest travels far away
As the current winter season[3] unfolds, DERTOUR Group’s booking analysis of its 16 European markets shines a light on travel trends across Europe, revealing a booming 28% year-over-year growth in guest numbers. Key travel trends for the winter season highlight a strong appetite for long-haul destinations, with almost one third of travellers (31%) opting for far-flung getaways. Amongst the top destinations, the Middle East remains a strong performer, with places like Dubai drawing visitors especially for winter bookings.
Among the up-and-coming destinations New Zealand and Australia are getting ready for a comeback and attract travellers with their breathtaking landscapes and diverse tourism offerings.
“We see a rising interest in long-haul destinations, with almost every 5th long-haul guest opting to travel to the Arabian Peninsula. This shows the high dynamism in destinations like Dubai with its lifestyle-centric approach and emphasis on cultural attractions”, notes Leif Vase Larsen. “Among the trending destinations, we see Australia and New Zealand returning as up-and-coming destinations with the strongest year-over-year growth rates.”
For short- and mid-haul travel, Egypt has emerged as a standout destination, experiencing impressive growth of +81% compared to the previous winter season. Other top short- and medium haul destinations for European guests this winter include Spain, Türkiye, Italy and Germany, reinforcing the appeal of classic holiday hotspots.
| Top 5 short- and mid-haul travel (Winter 2024/25)* | Top 5 long-haul travel (Winter 2024/25)* |
| 1. Spain | 1. Middle East (UAE, Jordan, Oman & others) |
| 2. Egypt | 2. Indian Ocean |
| 3. Türkiye | 3. Thailand |
| 4. Italy | 4. Caribbean |
| 5. Germany | 5. North America |
*Top destinations ranked by guest numbers
Summer holidays 2025: High level of comfort and experiences at fair prices
DERTOUR Group’s booking metrics for the summer season[4] 2025 indicate continued strong demand, with guest numbers increasing by 14% compared to the already strong summer of 2024. Revenue has also grown by 18%, driven by a shift towards premium travel experiences. “The demand for premium travel experiences remains high, especially in Eastern and Central Europe,” states Ingo Burmester. “With almost one third of our guests choosing five-star hotels, it is clear that many travellers are prioritising comfort, service, and unique experiences – while destination choices indicate a preference for fair prices.”
Looking at the latest destination trends, Egypt has overtaken Tunisia as a popular sun-and-beach destination, reflecting its growing appeal among European travellers with its diverse cultural offerings, natural sights and excellent value for money. Long-haul travel is also gaining momentum, with Thailand and its nearly endless travel options at affordable prices joining the ranks of top summer destinations alongside the Indian Ocean and North America. The Middle East continues to perform well in the summer season, establishing itself as a year-round favourite.
“We have observed a trend towards former winter destinations like Thailand transforming into year-round favourites,” explains Leif Vase Larsen. “This is largely driven by the outstanding quality of travel experiences at competitive pricing available during the summer season.”
| Top 5 short- and mid-haul travel (Summer 2024)* | Top 5 long-haul travel (Summer 2024)* |
| 1. Greece | 1. Indian Ocean |
| 2. Türkiye | 2. North America |
| 3. Spain | 3. Thailand |
| 4. Egypt | 4. Middle East (UAE, Jordan, Oman & others) |
| 5. Tunisia | 5. Caribbean |
* Top destinations ranked by guest numbers
Additionally, experience-rich destinations such as Australasia are witnessing significant growth, with New Zealand experiencing a whopping 140% increase in guest numbers compared to the previous summer, making it a desirable year-round destination on the up-and-coming trend radar.
With over 20 renowned tour operator brands, a diverse range of specialist travel offerings, and a growing hotel portfolio, the DERTOUR Group considers itself well-positioned for the travel year ahead. “We offer a wide range of diverse travel experiences that cater to today’s travellers’ individual needs,” concludes Leif Vase Larsen.
Press Contact
Corporate Communications
t:+49 69 9588-8000
presse@dertour.com
Background
DERTOUR Group has its head office in Cologne, Germany, and is REWE Group’s travel and tourism division. As one of Europe’s leading travel groups, DERTOUR Group encompasses more than 130 companies and employs over 10,000 people in 16 European countries. Every year, millions of guests travel with one of the Group’s tour operators or specialists. DERTOUR Group includes tour operators such as DERTOUR, ITS, Meiers Weltreisen, Kuoni, Helvetic Tours, ITS Coop Travel, Billa Reisen, Koning Aap, Apollo, Exim Tours and Fischer, as well as around 2,000 travel agencies (such as DERTOUR, DERPART, Kuoni, Exim, and Fischer, plus franchises and partners), the hotel brands Sentido, Aldiana, and ananea and the online travel agency Prijsvrij Vakanties. The DERTOUR Group also offers on-site support: The company runs an agency network with 71 offices in 31 travel destinations. The staff in the destination agencies assist the guests of the DERTOUR Group from their arrival at their holiday destination until their departure. For more information, go to www.dertour-group.com.
[4] Summer season runs from 1 May 2025 to 31 October 2025. The booking numbers for this period include cumulated bookings from DERTOUR Group’s tour operators in 16 markets, reporting date 11 February 2025.
[3] Winter season runs from 1 November 2024 to 30 April 2025. The booking numbers for this period include cumulated bookings from DERTOUR Group’s tour operators in 16 markets, reporting date 11 February 2025.
[2] The FTI Group was the third-largest tour operator in Europe. Its bankruptcy became public at the beginning of June 2024.
[1] The 16 source markets cover countries in Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe.