The entire city wins: Tourism and conventions are strong growth drivers for the Berlin business community

Berlin, 27 August 2012. The gross sales revenues of the Berlin tourism industry amounted to EUR 10.31 billion in 2011 – a plus of 14.7 percent compared to the last survey in 2009 and a doubling versus 2001. This is one of the results of the study “Business Factor for Berlin: Tourism and Convention Industry”, which was presented today by Berlin’s Senator for Economic Affairs Sybille von Obernitz and visitBerlin CEO Burkhard Kieker at a press conference. The study analyses the long-term development of Berlin tourism since 1999. Von Obernitz: “Berlin tourism is a success story – and this story goes on. It is a strong growth driver for the location Berlin.”

Berlin tourism as a job creator

The study also shows that around 275,000 Berliners live on tourism. In 2001 this applied only to around 66,200 people. “Berlin tourism is a job creator. It offers workplaces for all qualification levels”, said von Obernitz. The Senator for Economic Affairs also pointed out that the hospitality industry, the retail trade and the services sector benefit in particular from the tourism and convention industry. According to the study, the hospitality industry is with 44.8 percent of the sales revenues the largest beneficiary, followed by the retail trade with 38.3 percent.

“We are on the right track”

With her policy, von Obernitz intends to further strengthen the tourism and convention industry. She focuses on the implementation of the tourism concept of the Senate, which provides, amongst other things, for the strengthening of cultural and event tourism as well as the further development of Berlin as an international convention and meeting metropolis. Von Obernitz: “We are on the right track. Half a million guests per day in our city are an optimistic sign for the future.”

“The city and its inhabitants benefit enormously”

“Berlin swings back into the normal situation of a metropolis in tourism, too – and the whole city and its inhabitants benefit from it”, said Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin. On average, every visitor to Berlin spends, with overnight accommodation, EUR 204.70 in the city (last survey: EUR 196.70), whereas the spending of meeting and convention participants, with overnight accommodation, has remained unchanged with an average EUR 230 per day. Every day visitor spends EUR 35.70 in the city (last survey 2009: EUR 34.50).

Visitors come to Berlin several times

Every day around 500,000 guests stay on average in Berlin. They spend a total of 182 million days per year in the city. “Berlin guests do not come once, but they come back several times. Half of the visitors travel twice or more often to Berlin”, said Kieker. The trips focus not only on Berlin sights and cultural institutions but people from all over the world are fascinated by the Berlin way of life. Many who come as tourists to the city can imagine living here. Berlin is particularly attractive for young, creative, highly qualified and efficient people. The unique blend of Berlin lifestyle and historical landmarks attracts the visitors. The Berlin Investment Bank (IBB) has calculated that the 30 million mark might be reached for room nights already in 2016 (www.ibb.de/berlin-aktuell). In 2011 Berlin recorded 22.4 million room nights at accommodation providers.

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The study “Business Factor for Berlin: Tourism and Convention Industry” was prepared on behalf of visitBerlin by dwif-Consulting GmbH. It is available for downloading at the press portal of visitBerlin: http://press.visitberlin.de/sites/default/files/wirtschaftsfaktor-touris… (German).