Tour Operators in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Frankfurt, Germany
Last Updated: July 2024
WZ N79.12DERevenue
€30.3bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
€XXX.Xm
Employees
35,424
Businesses
2,387
Wages
€X.Xbn
Tour Operators in Germany industry analysis
The industry had to massively curtail its activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a slump in sales. In 2024, the industry has largely overcome the effects of the pandemic. Industry sales are expected to increase by 0.9% in the current year. In 2019, the second-largest industry player at the time, Thomas Cook, filed for insolvency. In addition, all industry players are facing the challenge of having to invest massively in digitalisation in order to remain competitive. The growing importance of the internet as a sales channel has increased the intensity of competition in the tour operator sector over the last five years. The combination of these factors has led to an average annual decline in industry revenue of 2.3% between 2019 and 2024. The economic situation was largely positive until the pandemic. In 2024, industry turnover is expected to reach 30.3 billion euros.During the coronavirus crisis, many airlines had to severely restrict their flight operations. This led to a massive decline in turnover in the aviation industry in 2020. Despite a significant recovery, turnover in 2024 is still likely to be far below the pre-crisis level, which will also have a negative impact on tour operators due to their high dependence on airlines. The latter are also suffering from the current high price of crude oil.Over the next five years, IBISWorld is forecasting average annual growth of 2.9% and an industry turnover of 35 billion euros in 2029. The trend towards digitalisation in a wide variety of areas, such as distribution or the automated purchasing of travel capacity, is likely to continue. IBISWorld expects that this will also bring completely new players to the tour operator market, particularly large companies such as Google and Amazon, which already have enormous expertise in the digital sector and many customers in various industries. The number of companies and employees in the tour operator sector is unlikely to return to pre-crisis levels by 2029.
Trends and Insights
- The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic brought industry growth to a standstill. Tour operators had to largely suspend their activities in the meantime due to travel restrictions.
- Bathing holidays within Europe and in the Mediterranean region outside Europe generate almost half of the industry's sales. During the coronavirus crisis, the segment gained in importance as the trips were easier to organise than those to more distant countries.
- The central region has the highest proportion of businesses in the tour operator industry. The high population density and the associated relative economic strength result in high purchasing power and a large number of potential customers.
- Price search engines pose an increasing threat to tour operators. They make it much easier for customers to put together their own personalised and particularly inexpensive trip.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €30.3bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
The easing of travel restrictions enabled a significant recovery in industry sales
- The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 brought industry growth to a standstill. In the first few months of the pandemic, industry players largely suspended their activities and had to organise the return flights of holidaymakers remaining in the destinations, in some cases with the support of the federal government.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The medium-term consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are higher debt and increasing pressure to digitalise
- The coronavirus pandemic is likely to have a lasting impact on the tour operator industry. The immediate consequences, such as undercapacity in the flight and hotel sector due to tour operator insolvencies, have largely been overcome. However, many tour operators will continue to be confronted with a significantly higher level of debt in the coming years due to the utilisation of loans that are essential for survival.
Biggest companies in the Tour Operators in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue (€m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
TUI AG | 6,801.7 | |
DER Touristik Group GmbH | 4,134.1 | |
FTI Touristik GmbH | 3,895.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Beach holidays in Europe and the Mediterranean region outside Europe, City breaks and Other beach holidays. Beach holidays in Europe and the Mediterranean region outside Europe is the largest segment of the Tour Operators in Germany.
Trends and Insights
The profitability of beach holidays in Europe and the Mediterranean region outside Europe is declining
- Seaside holidays within Europe and to the Mediterranean region outside Europe are holidays with the aim of relaxing on popular coastal regions and beaches and enjoying the sea and the cultural sights of the respective region.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Intercity Passenger Rail Transport in Germany
- Sea & Coastal Passenger Water Transport in Germany
- Passenger Air Transport in Germany
- Travel Agencies in Germany
International industries
- Global Tourism
- Tour Operators in the US
- Tour Operators in Canada
- Travel Agency and Tour Arrangement Services in Australia
- Travel Agency and Tour Arrangement Services in New Zealand
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Tour operators put together travel packages that they sell directly or via travel agencies to end customers. These travel packages include services such as transport, accommodation, meals and leisure activities such as museum visits.
What's included in this industry?
Beach holidays in Europe and the Mediterranean region outside EuropeCity breaksBathing holidays in faraway countriesCompanies
TUI AGDER Touristik Group GmbHFTI Touristik GmbHPurchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
OWN EVENTPAUSCHAL TRAVELHOT WATER TARGETSTRAVEL SERVICE PROVIDERIndustry Code
WZ 79.12 - Tour Operators in Germany
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic brought industry growth to a standstill. Tour operators had to largely suspend their activities in the meantime due to travel restric...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Bathing holidays within Europe and in the Mediterranean region outside Europe generate almost half of the industry's sales. During the coronavirus crisis, the segment gained ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
The central region has the highest proportion of businesses in the tour operator industry. The high population density and the associated relative economic strength result in...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Price search engines pose an increasing threat to tour operators. They make it much easier for customers to put together their own personalised and particularly inexpensive t...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
TUI AG got into financial difficulties during the pandemic. In 2020, TUI AG had to take out three loan packages with a total volume of 4.8 billion euros to ensure its economi...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of TUI AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of DER Touristik Group GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of FTI Touristik GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for TUI AG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for DER Touristik Group GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for FTI Touristik GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The current high world market price for crude oil poses a risk for tour operators. The rise in fuel costs is also making the travel services on offer more expensive.
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Tour operators can save on personnel costs by automating work processes. At the same time, however, labour costs for IT specialists are increasing.
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Tour Operators industry in Germany in 2024?
The market size of the Tour Operators industry in Germany is €30.3bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Tour Operators in Germany industry in 2024?
There are 2,387 businesses in the Tour Operators industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Tour Operators industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Tour Operators industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Tour Operators industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Tour Operators industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Tour Operators market in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Tour Operators market in Germany are TUI AG, DER Touristik Group GmbH and FTI Touristik GmbH
What does the Tour Operators in Germany include?
Beach holidays in Europe and the Mediterranean region outside Europe and City breaks are part of the Tour Operators industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Tour Operators in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in Germany is TUI AG.
How competitive is the Tour Operators industry in Germany?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Tour Operators industry in Germany.
