DRV President Norbert Fiebig. Photo source: ITB Berlin
Greece has once again secured its position as one of the top three most popular summer holiday destinations for German travelers in 2025, according to data presented by the German Travel Association (DRV) at this year’s ITB Berlin.
Alongside Türkiye and Spain, Greece continues to attract strong demand, confirming its enduring appeal to Germany’s key outbound travel market.
During the ITB Berlin 2025 opening press conference on Monday, DRV President Norbert Fiebig announced that Greece ranked third among the Top 10 flight package travel destinations for summer 2025 based on the latest sales figures. According to DRV, the Top 10 holiday destinations this summer based on sales are Türkiye, Spain, Greece, Egypt, Portugal, Italy, Tunisia, USA, Maldives and Bulgaria.
In addition to its summer popularity, Greece also ranks among the top five Easter holiday destinations for 2025, reinforcing its position as a preferred choice for German holidaymakers across seasons.
The most popular destinations for tour operators for the Easter holidays, which fall in April this year, include Türkiye (17 percent of total sales), Egypt (13 percent), the Canary Islands (11 percent), the Balearic Islands (8 percent), and Greece (5 percent).
Early bookings reshape travel planning
According to DRV data, one of the most defining trends for 2025 is the shift toward early bookings. The shift is partly driven by the desire to secure favorable prices and guarantee availability at popular destinations.
As Fiebig highlighted, early bookings for Mediterranean destinations are significantly higher compared to the same period last year. “Germans are booking their summer holidays even earlier than before — early birds are the new last-minute travelers,” he noted.
As of the end of January, summer holiday bookings across the board were 11 percent higher than at the same point in 2024, indicating a clear move away from traditional last-minute booking behavior.
ITB Berlin 2025 opening press conference on Monday, March 3. Photo source: ITB Berlin
Strong demand for Mediterranean beach holidays
The DRV’s latest data highlights a clear preference for Mediterranean beach destinations among German travelers.
According to trends for the 2025 summer season, evaluated by Travel Data + Analytics (TDA) for DRV, package flights to eastern Mediterranean countries, cruises, and long-distance trips are all in even greater demand than last summer.
Overall, holiday demand for the summer season (May to October) is leading to a year-on-year sales increase of 12 percent. Around 62 percent of bookings as of the end of January were made through travel agencies or online travel portals that sell tour operator products, underscoring the continued popularity of traditional package holidays.
“The popularity of well-insured, classic package holidays is growing again,” said Fiebig. “Compared to last year, 6 percent more people have already booked a holiday with a tour operator.”
Broader trends: Cruises, long-haul growth, and sustainability
Photo source: ITB Berlin
Beyond the Mediterranean, cruises are also seeing a notable surge in demand, with bookings for summer 2025 up by 18 percent, driven in part by slight price reductions. Long-haul travel, particularly to Asian destinations such as Thailand, is also experiencing above-average growth of 33 percent.
Fiebig also underlined the growing importance of sustainability in travel decision-making, calling for greater international cooperation to accelerate the development of sustainable fuels for aviation and maritime transport.
Price sensitivity and Smart spending
Moreover, despite their strong desire to travel, German holidaymakers are becoming increasingly price-sensitive due to ongoing economic pressures. This trend is particularly noticeable in the rise of bookings to more affordable Mediterranean destinations.
Fiebig explained that, in times of economic uncertainty, “money is no longer so easy to spend — and this is also reflected in the choice of destination.”
However, the association’s president was optimistic about the outlook for 2025, noting that almost a quarter of Germans are planning to spend more on holidays according to surveys.
The ITB Berlin 2025 tourism expo opened at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds in Germany on Tuesday and will run until March 6.
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