Tourism has again grown sharply in Cologne, with the number of overnight stays rising to 5.98 million in 2015 for the first time.

This figure represents an increase of 4.3 per cent on 2014.

In 2015 the share of overnight stays by visitors from outside Germany grew by 6.6 per cent relative to the previous year to 2.08 million.

Meanwhile, the number of overnight stays by visitors from Germany increased by 3.2 per cent to 3.90 million.

The number of arrivals and overnight stays due to business and leisure activities thus rose to a record level.

“Last year’s steady increase in visitors and continued substantial growth in the number of overnight stays to almost six million underscore the great potential that the tourism industry has for Cologne as a business location,” said Elisabeth Thelen, chairwoman Cologne Tourist Board.

“The number of overnight stays has doubled since 2000. This development shows how important strategic marketing in cooperation with local and international partners is for the city as a travel destination.”

Cologne Tourist Board estimates that tourism generates a gross turnover of €6.6 billion per year.

The number of overnight stays in Cologne had grown by 5.1 per cent as of November 2015 and was thus in step with the growth in other major German cities such as Berlin (+5.5 per cent), Hamburg (+5.2 per cent) and Munich (up five per cent).