Media365
The proposed India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be a “game changer” for economic ties between India and Germany, boosting bilateral trade, investment and tourism, German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann said on Tuesday.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Travel Destination Germany Press Conference 2026 in New Delhi, Ackermann said the agreement would create fresh opportunities for businesses and investors in both countries by lowering tariffs and reducing trade barriers.
“It will be a game changer in many ways. It will mean more German investment in India and perhaps more Indian investment in Germany. The reduction of tariffs and other barriers between Europe and India will activate trade and investment in both markets,” he said.
Expressing confidence that the long-pending trade pact will be implemented in the first half of next year, Ackermann said the agreement would also strengthen travel and people-to-people exchanges.
“I’m very optimistic that when we implement this in the first half of next year, we will see significant changes over the coming years in trade, investment and travel, with visitor numbers increasing on both sides,” he added.
On tourism, the Ambassador said Germany is witnessing a steady rise in Indian visitors, but believes the market still has significant untapped potential. He said Germany is stepping up efforts to promote its tourism offerings in India.
Ackermann also noted that the growing Indian diaspora in Germany, comprising students, professionals and their families, is contributing to higher travel between the two countries.
Responding to questions on whether geopolitical tensions and the growing popularity of destinations such as Japan and South Korea were impacting tourism to Germany, Ackermann said Indian tourist arrivals continue to register an upward trend.
“Tourism to Germany is growing, and we are seeing a steady increase in the number of Indian tourists,” he said.
He added that Indian travellers have evolved significantly over the past decade, with many now preferring nature, trekking, outdoor activities and personalised travel experiences over traditional sightseeing.
Meanwhile, Romit Theophilus, Director of the German National Tourist Office, said Germany is targeting more than one million overnight stays by Indian visitors, equivalent to over 300,000 tourists annually.
“Our goal is to achieve over a million overnight stays in Germany by Indian travellers,” Theophilus said.
According to him, Indian leisure travellers spend an average of nine nights in Germany and more than 3,000 euros per trip, with daily expenditure averaging around 350 euros, including accommodation, food, and transportation.
Theophilus said Germany is promoting destination-based campaigns in India focused on city experiences, culinary tourism, honeymoon travel, and destination weddings. He added that stronger India-Germany economic ties, supported by the proposed India-EU FTA, are expected to further boost tourism and business exchanges between the two countries.
