David Bowie has once more extolled the attractions of Berlin from a personal perspective through his latest single ‘Where Are We Now’ - but Berlin is just one of the reasons why people travel to Germany and why visitor figures continue to rise.

Latest statistics (up to October 2012), show a rise of 8.8 per cent in overnight stays for October by UK visitors, compared to the same period for 2011 and January to October 2012 inclusive, shows an increase of 5.1 per cent compared with 2011.

Significant impetus from Europe

“According to IPK International’s latest ‘trend telegram’, Destination Germany is performing especially positively compared with other travel destinations,” emphasised Petra Hedorfer, chief executive, German National Tourist Board.

“Inbound travel to Germany is experiencing strong growth by comparison with other European countries.”

According to preliminary statistics from IPK International, the number of trips made by Europeans to Germany in the first eight months of 2012 went up by seven per cent, whereas the total number of trips they made abroad over the same period rose by just two per cent.

Germany lies in second place only behind Spain for European travellers as a destination and visitors from the UK are a highly important source market, ranked with Switzerland and the Netherlands in the top three.

Music - not just that of David Bowie - will be prominent in 2013 as Germany celebrates the 200th anniversary of Wagner’s birth, plus ‘Barrier-free’ travel and the150th anniversary of the death of the Brothers Grimm among other things.

Klaus Lohmann, director of the German National Tourist Office UK & Ireland commented:  “Whether you’re a Bowie fan, a Wagner enthusiast or are travelling to Germany for the first time, Germany offers you almost limitless opportunities for an enjoyable stay whatever your age or interests.”