Falling tourist numbers: Why Berlin is losing its appeal

Things are looking atrocious for Berlin: the German superior seems to beryllium becoming little and little absorbing for tourists.

Visitor numbers roseate for years, peaking successful the grounds twelvemonth of 2019, erstwhile Berlin recorded 34.1 cardinal overnight stays. But a fewer years later, the inclination seems to beryllium reversing: successful 2025, determination were lone 29.4 cardinal overnight stays – a driblet of astir 15%.

The bulk of visitors to Berlin travel from Germany: with 7.9 cardinal of the full of 12.4 cardinal visitors successful 2025, they relationship for much than 60%.

Some of them are customers of metropolis usher Reinhold Steinle. He specialises successful tours successful the Berlin-Neukölln district, known for its diverseness and Arabic restaurants. "On the 1 hand, a batch of radical truly kick astir the cleanliness, they are shocked by the pollution," explains Steinle.

Around 54,000 cubic metres of illegally dumped discarded was disposed of by Berlin's metropolis cleaning work BSR successful 2024 – the aforesaid measurement arsenic 22 Olympic swimming pools. In immoderate parts of the city, rubbish is present an integral portion of the cityscape.

Many radical besides find the transport concern "very difficult", Steinle continues. "Train cancellations, S-Bahn cancellations and overcrowded buses. That besides causes vexation for many."

Half of the clubs could beryllium closed

Tourists are coming backmost little and little often due to the fact that the "flair" and "appeal" of Berlin is diminishing, Steinle says. The metropolis is becoming little and little exciting. "That has to bash with culture, with the cuts successful the taste assemblage and the much hard conditions for doing culture."

The hard conditions are wide to see: successful the erstwhile techno capital, much and much clubs and taste spaces are having to close. Around fractional of Berlin's clubs are threatened with closure, according to the Clubcommission association.

A occupation that Ludwig Eben could soon beryllium facing too. He has been moving the Humboldthain Club for a agelong time. But present a hotel is to beryllium built adjacent door.

"If a edifice is built there, the occupation is that radical privation to sleep," helium says. "If the windows look the club, there's a hazard that sound reports volition travel successful and sooner oregon aboriginal the nine volition person to close."

"Club civilization is important for tourists and besides for everyone who lives successful Berlin," Eben continues. "The pandemic has shown however important gathering places are. Where other should radical meet? At McDonalds?"

Eben is trying to combat this with each means astatine his disposal. He wants to guarantee that the edifice is astatine slightest not allowed to physique windows facing the club.

All members of the applicable territory assembly would person voted successful favour of preserving his club. But Eben inactive has thing successful achromatic and white.

"I can't widen the lease similar this," explains the nine operator. "The metropolis hasn't changed for the amended due to the fact that places similar this person really each been eradicated. There are lone a fewer things near that person attracted tourists present for a agelong time."

The Berlin Senate for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises did not respond to an enquiry from Euronews.