Chinese Tourists in Germany: a growing business opportunity
Germany has been experiencing a Chinese tourism boom – more and more people from China are visiting the country. In 2009 less than 400,000 Chinese tourists arrived in Germany, but in 2017 the number of Chinese arrivals more than tripled to over 1.5 million.
Why are Chinese tourists coming to Germany? What do they love and where do they go? What are the Chinese hotspots in Germany? Read on to find out!
The statistics are impressive: Chinese tourists have become one of the most important tourist groups in Germany in just a few years:
Chinese tourist arrivals in Germany (in thousands)
What do Chinese Tourists like to do in Germany?
You might have an image in your mind: busloads of Chinese tour groups coming to Neuschwanstein, before hopping back into the bus and continuing a hectic tour covering many European attractions in just a few days.
While big bus groups are still common, the trend is going in another direction:
Chinese tourists’ preferred type of travel (multiple answers were possible)
Package tours are still more popular in China than elsewhere, but the most popular way to travel nowadays is being independent and exploring without being confined to a hectic tour group schedule with dozens of others in a bus.
Germany through Chinese eyes
We had a look at Chinese travel portals to see Germany through Chinese eyes. The results are surprising, interesting and sometimes frankly quite amusing. We translated quite close to the sentence structure and style of the original posts.
“For the past ten years, Germany has always been a dream country for me. Before I got married I already planned that I must bring my future wife to visit Germany again. After the wedding my wife and I discussed the trip and we immediately booked a round-trip to Frankfurt. This is not only a honeymoon but also a trip to find my dreams.”
user “Rick” on mafengwo.com
What are the top attractions for Chinese tourists in Germany?
We evaluated the Chinese travel portal qyer.com to find the most reviewed attractions in Germany to determine the top 10 attractions for Chinese visitors. Here is the list!
#10: Munich New Town Hall
Coming in at number 10 is the famous town hall in Munich.
#9: Königssee
This beautiful lake in the Bavarian mountains makes for a great photo spot.
#8: Heidelberg Castle
For many Chinese a visit to Heidelberg and its iconic castle is a highlight of their trip.
#7: Berlin Cathedral
Chinese visitors appreciate the history and the view over Berlin.
#6: Berlin Reichstag
The heart of Germany’s democracy is a hit with Chinese visitors.
#5: Hofbräuhaus
Leather pants, big beers and huge portions of pork knuckle: the stereotypical Bavaria is condensed in the famous brew house in Munich.
#4: Marienplatz München
The most famous square in Munich is packed with Chinese visitors every day.
#3: Brandenburg Gate
This symbol for Germany is a must for the photo album and social media posts of Chinese tourists.
#2: Cologne cathedral
The large towers give the cathedral the largest façade of any church in the world and the amazing view from the tower makes up for the arduous climb.
#1: Neuschwanstein
For many Chinese Germany is the country of fairy tales and the brothers Grimm. For Chinese a trip to Germany is not complete without a visit to “Germany’s Fairy Tale Castle #1” – Neuschwanstein
For those of you who love charts as much as we do here is the summary:
Top 10 attractions for Chinese visitors in Germany
Reviews on Chinese travel portal qyer.com
“If you had never been to Germany, you will never understand the serious and careful nature of the Germans. When you’re in Germany, how can you not travel by car? Even in a snowy and icy winter. And me, I came just for this, to understand the serious and careful nature of the Germans and to feel my heart without speed limits. “
User “Cányuè Duàn Jiàn” on mafengwo.com
Chinese visitors love self-driving holidays
Many Chinese social media posts like the one quoted above mention the thrill of renting a car and driving around scenic parts of Germany. Traffic in China tends to be dense and chaotic and cars are very expensive in many “tier one” Chinese cities, such as Shanghai.
Many Chinese associate Germany with premium car manufacturers and enjoy driving on the autobahn – preferably in a Mercedes or BMW of course!
Which German cities are the most popular with Chinese tourists?
Once again, we created a rating, by evaluating check-ins on the popular travel Chinese travel website qyer.com. This is the result:
#10: Nuremberg
The historic old town and Christmas market are popular – and the famous sausages of course.
#9: Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf’s chique boutiques and old town draw many visitors. The city is also popular with business travelers, thanks to its many international trade fairs.
#8: Stuttgart
Why do Chinese tourists love Stuttgart so much? The answer is the Mercedes-Benz museum. Chinese visitors love visiting Germany’s iconic brand, but also enjoy other sights such as Hohenzollern castle.
#7: Hamburg
Germany’s charming Northern city attracts Chinese visitors with good seafood, museums and its famous port.
#6: Heidelberg
The beautiful old town and castle in this international university town are big favorites of Chinese visitors.
#5: Füssen
Most Chinese tourists stop here on their way to Neuschwanstein Castle, but the city with its old town is also appreciated in its own right
#4: Cologne
Kölsch beer and the world famous cathedral keep drawing Chinese crowds. The “love locks” on Hohenzollern Bridge are often compared to Paris and popular for selfies.
#3: Berlin
Germany’s capital is the third most popular destination for Chinese tourists, thanks to world class restaurants, the East Side gallery and the fascinating history of the once divided Germany.
#2: Frankfurt
Why is non-touristy Frankfurt so popular? The answer: most Chinese visitors land in Frankfurt airport and the city receives a lot of business travelers. Brave Chinese tourists have tried the local apple cider – reviews are mixed.
#1: Munich
Chinese often associate Germany with Bavarian leather pants, BMW and huge beer glasses – no wonder they love Munich so much. Furthermore the city is a gateway to the mountains and beautiful landscapes of Bavaria.
Here is a chart showing the relative difference between the popularity of the cities
Most popular cities in Germany according to qyer.com check-ins
Munich and Frankfurt are by far the most favorite places for Chinese tourists.
“Germany does not only have the world-famous car brands and electrical brands, but also the milk powder and daily necessities that touch every aspect of our daily life. Not everyone knows how intoxicating and beautiful the scenery is. Germany in fall is full of unforgettable beauty, colorful and dreamy scenery. It is no surprise that Grimm’s fairy tales which accompanied us growing up were born here.”
user “Fion” on mafengwo.com
Tourism businesses: it is high time to be prepared for Chinese visitors
If you have a tourism business it is now a great time to be prepared for Chinese visitors.
You want to be found by Chinese tourists, be understood and be attractive. We are a dedicated agency that helps you reach and engage Chinese tourists.
Just contact us via the button above and receive a completely free proposal tailored to your business.
Image credits: Füssen – Wikipedia
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