Summer break
July 31, 2011
White beaches, palm trees arching into the sky, turquoise waters - sounds like a dreamy vacation get-away, doesn't it? Especially when the summer has been rainy and cold, as it has been in Germany this year.
Even so, Germans' home country is their top holiday destination. Around one-third of the population spends their vacation within the country. And the weather isn't really bad all of the time, anyway. In July 2010, for instance, temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some German cities, making it too hot for many.
Germany vs. the Mediterranean
Hiking in Bavaria, swimming in the Baltic Sea, culture and history in Berlin - it's the variety that people love, said Karl Born, professor of tourism management at the Harz University of Applied Sciences in Saxony-Anhalt.
But that's not the only reason to stay close to home. For many, only having to travel a relatively short distance to cross the country is appealing. "The close proximity of things, their familiarity, being able to speak the same language - those are many good reasons," said Born.
The uncertainty of the weather is the only drawback. Those who want a safe bet in tanking up on sunshine travel to Spain, Italy or Turkey. These countries rate number two, three and four, respectively, on the list of popular holiday spots among Germans, according to the German Tourism Association.
A politically correct vacation?
Mediterranean countries in Europe are also profiting from the unrest in North Africa this year. The number of travelers to countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, for instance, dropped dramatically toward the beginning of the year, said Christian Wessels of REWE-Touristik, one of Germany's biggest tour operators.
February protests unsettled vacation-goers, and that was reflected in their vacation bookings, with many rerouting to the Mediterranean.
"Many people chose a different destination and those who had already booked a trip to Egypt, changed it," he said. Germans were meanwhile booking vacations there again, but the numbers don't come close to last year's, he added.
Egypt was on the top-10 list of Germans' favorite destinations in 2010 - a fact that prompted debate. And the talk wasn't just about Egypt. Is it ethical, in general, to go on vacation to a country with an authoritarian government, and leave one's money there?
Tourism expert Born has a clear opinion on the matter. One cannot expect holidaymakers to be "any more ethical than the German government and companies," he said. The latter traveled to such countries to do business, he pointed out. Germany shared a close relationship with Egypt, even under former president Hosni Mubarak, he observed.
The 'right' to travel
But what are Germans really after when they go on vacation? There are two main motives, said Born. For many, to kick back and relax. The other group quests for the opposite: adventure, meeting new people and experiencing exotic cultures. Of course, there are many degrees in-between, he noted.
In general, Germans are known for their huge hunger for travel, and that's not surprising, said Born. After all, travel has a long history in Germany.
"I once quipped that Germans see traveling as a kind of fundamental right," he recalled. That could also be observed when the Berlin Wall fell and Germany was reunited - the demand for freedom being strongly connected to the wish to travel freely.
And one can look back further in history, to the aristocrats of the Middle Ages who were so fond of traveling. "Just take a look at Goethe, who absolutely loved to travel," Born said.
Author: Petra Lambeck / als
Editor: Kate Bowen