In a first, Egypt overtakes Spain as the most attractive winter destination for Germans

Egypt has surpassed Spain to become the top winter destination for German travelers during the current season. According to the German travel magazine Dertour, industry experts attribute the success of the Egyptian tourism sector to its stable climate, short flights, and a diverse portfolio of premium travel packages. The findings were published in the latest travel barometer released by Dertour Germany for the winter season spanning November 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026. The comprehensive analysis compared booking data compiled across prominent travel brands, including Dertour, ITS, Meiers Weltreisen, and Travelix Last Minute, against the corresponding period from the previous year. The CEO of Dertour for Germany and Austria, Boris Raoul, noted that customer volumes remained stable compared to the prior winter season. “This trend represents a highly positive indicator, particularly given the challenging consumer climate,” Raoul stated. He added that the winter season experienced an exceptional, strong start, recording an increase of more than thirty percent in customer volume.   Shifting travel preferences and Egypt’s competitive edge The report highlighted a distinct consumer preference, with sixty-five percent of travelers opting for short and medium-haul flights during their winter vacations—a growth of two percentage points compared to last year. Conversely, only thirty-five percent of holidaymakers selected long-haul destinations, representing a two-percentage-point decline. Egypt emerged as the most successful market in this bracket, securing the top spot on the list of most popular destinations following a fifteen percent surge in visitor numbers, ultimately eclipsing Spain. The Chief Product Officer at Dertour, Sven Schikarsky, elaborated on the factors driving this momentum: “Egypt’s primary success factors include its reliable climate, short flight times, and a wide array of high-quality offerings, with a particular emphasis on comprehensive all-inclusive packages.”   European rankings and short-haul dynamics While Egypt secured the top position, Spain thereby shifted to second place, maintaining robust demand driven primarily by the popularity of the Canary Islands for winter getaways. Turkey sustained its third-place ranking, followed by Germany in fourth. Austria recorded a notable ascent, climbing from seventh to fifth place on the back of a thirty-seven percent increase in visitor numbers. Poland meanwhile dropped from fifth to sixth place due to a minor decline in tourist arrivals. The Czech Republic and Greece registered the highest growth rates, expanding by twenty-one percent and ninety-four percent respectively – though neither entered the top five slots. The final ranking for the primary short and medium-haul winter destinations was: Egypt, Spain, Turkey, Germany, and Austria.   Long-haul trends and global shifts In the long-haul sector, Thailand retained its dominant position as the most booked destination, an achievement credited to its diverse tourist attractions and exceptional value for money. The Indian Ocean region secured second place, followed by the Caribbean in third. The United Arab Emirates dropped to fourth place following a three percent decline in visitor arrivals, while East Africa advanced to fifth place, fueled by a fifteen percent growth rate. In contrast, North America fell out of the top five global destinations, impacted by a downward shift in US bookings, which dropped from fourth to sixth place. The final ranking for the top long-haul destinations concluded with Thailand, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and the UAE. The post In a first, Egypt overtakes Spain as the most attractive winter destination for Germans appeared first on Egypt Independent.