Berlin welcomes 5.7 million guests in the first half of 2023

Berlin, 11 August 2023 In the first six months of this year, 5.7 million guests travelled to Berlin, they spent around 13.8 million overnight stays in the city's hotels. In comparison to the first half of 2022, the number of overnight stays saw an increase of 23.9 per cent, while the number of guests went up by 30.2 per cent. The latest figures from the Berlin-Brandenburg State Office for Statistics were presented by the Senator for Economic Affairs Franziska Giffey and the CEO of visitBerlin Burkhard Kieker at C/O Berlin together with Stephan Erfurt, the Chairman of the Board of the C/O Berlin Foundation. 

Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises: “Berlin extends a hearty invitation to its guests. With millions of guests from other German states, from Europe and abroad, tourism is a veritable economic factor for our city. Many other industries benefit when our hotels and restaurants are well visited. The current figures show that we are on the right track. The restart after the pandemic proved to be a success. Berlin's economy holds much promise for the whole of Germany. We are now building on this development with our tourism concept and the resilience programme, which will soon be launched to further support Berlin businesses in positioning themselves for the future in a manner that is immune to crises.”

Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin: "Berlin tourism has continued to hold steady in the first half of the year 2023. In view of the current global situation, this positive development is not a foregone conclusion, but the culmination of a joint effort by the entire Visitor Economy as well as the city's politicians."   

Stephan Erfurt, Chairman of the Board of the C/O Berlin Foundation: "As an exhibition house for photography and visual media, C/O Berlin is all about bringing together relevant discourses of our time and our contemporary visual culture. With our unique location in Charlottenburg and the network of different partners around us, we have created a unique hub for photography that caters to both Berliners and guests from all over the world."

Most international guests came from the United Kingdom

The number of overnight stays by international guests grew to 38.8 per cent in the first half of the year 2023. For the purposes of comparison: From January to June 2022, the figure stood at 36 per cent. The strongest foreign markets on the list included the United Kingdom, the USA and the Netherlands. Germany remained the most important source market with a 61.2 per cent share of overnight stays.

The Berlin highlights in autumn: "48 h ICC" on Open Monument Day

Numerous highlights already inspire to plan the next trip to Berlin. For example, on the weekend of the Open Monument Day on 9 and 10 September, the International Congress Center Berlin, world-famous for its high-tech architecture and once the largest conference centre in Europe, will be open to all Berliners and guests of the city almost 10 years after its closure. The motto: "48 h ICC". A  programme is planned for visitors and representatives of the event industry.

A few days later, the first of two exhibitions dedicated to the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch will begin: The Berlinische Galerie will present "Edvard Munch. Magic of the North" from 15 September 2023 to 22 January 2024, highlighting Munch's time in Berlin, where he lived on and off between 1892 and 1907. The Barberini Museum in Potsdam will take a closer look at Munch's Landscapes and his interaction with nature with "Edvard Munch: Trembling Earth" from 18 November 2023 to 1 April 2024. In cooperation with both museums, visitBerlin offers a discounted combined ticket for both the exhibitions.

From 6 to 15 October, the Festival of Lights will once again transform numerous buildings, landmarks, monuments and streets into a riot of colours - spectacularly staged by international light artists.