This paper is concerned with the development of the spatial patterns of demand of German tourists. It attempts to show where Germans have travelled throughout the last 200 years as well as the historic causes for this developmen.
The paper concentrates on the developments after 1871, the end of the German–French war, after a unified and strong German State had emerged in the region where Germany is nowadays located.
This paper is in particular concerned with the tourists travelling for leisure rather than business, as spatial patterns of demand of business travel are not dependent on the preferences of the individual tourist, but on the necessities of the business concerned.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Development prior to 1871
2.1. The Grand Tour
2.2. Spa Towns
2.3. Educational and Cultural Tourism
2.4. The Discovery of Nature as a Destination
3. Development 1871 – 1920
3.1. The Bourgeois Summer Vacation ‘Sommerfrische’
3.2. Package Tours
3.3. Cruises
3.4. Tourism of the Working Class, the ‘Wandervogel’ and ‘Naturfreunde’
4. Development 1920 – 1946
5. Development 1947 to 1989
5.1. Development in the German Democratic Republic
5.2. Development in the Federal German Republic
6. Development since 1990
Objectives and Research Focus
This paper examines the evolution of spatial travel demand patterns among German tourists over the last two centuries, with a specific focus on the period following the unification of the German state in 1871. It explores the historic, societal, and political drivers that have shaped where Germans travel for leisure.
- Historical transition from aristocratic travel to mass tourism.
- Impact of major political ruptures and ideologies on travel behavior.
- The role of infrastructure, transportation, and economic shifts in shaping demand.
- Comparative analysis of tourism development in the GDR and the Federal German Republic.
- Post-1990 harmonization of travel patterns following German reunification.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. The Bourgeois Summer Vacation ‘Sommerfrische’
Due to the strength of the Christian faith throughout Germany over centuries, Sunday had been the free day of the week. With the slowly diminishing importance of religion in daily life and the lower importance of attending holy mass on Sundays, this day became available as a day to be used purely for relaxation. With the changed view of nature many people used Sundays for small excursions into the natural landscapes surrounding cities. The so-called ‘Sonntagsausflüge’ – Sunday trips – became a regular feature in the life of the lower- and middle-bourgeoisie. This was aided by improvements in infrastructure, in particular the advances of public transport through railways. From these modest beginnings a typical German way of travelling developed, the ‘Sommerfrische’ – Summer Vacations. ‘Sommerfrische’ can be defined as the stay of urban bourgeoisie over a period of time in rural areas during summer for relaxation purposes. These stays might be in rural areas near the coast or in mountainous regions. The distance travelled and whether the stay was with a host family or in a house owned by the traveller for the purpose of using it only in summer – the so-called ‘Sommerhaus’–, depended on the financial means of the travelling household. A typical feature of the ‘Sommerfrische’ was that families would travel every year to the same destination and stay with the same host family, with whom they would enjoy true social relationships. The rural host families were not primarily motivated by the money earned but rather bound in friendship to the urbanites. In difference to the travel patterns of the aristocracy and higher bourgeoisie the important point of the vacation was not to see and be seen, but to relax with the whole family. Due to the family structures of this time with the father of the family being solely responsible for earning money, the wife and the children would often spend the whole summer alone in the ‘Sommerfrische’, with the father visiting them as time permitted (Zimmers, 1995).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the study, clarifies the definition of a tourist, and outlines the historical starting point of 1871 for the analysis of spatial demand.
2. Development prior to 1871: This section traces the origins of tourism from the Grand Tour of the aristocracy to the gradual emergence of spa culture and the romanticized discovery of natural landscapes.
3. Development 1871 – 1920: This chapter analyzes the rise of bourgeois vacation patterns, the emergence of the commercial package tour and cruise industry, and the nascent democratization of travel through youth and labor organizations.
4. Development 1920 – 1946: This chapter covers the impact of the interwar economic instability, the rise of mass tourism initiatives under the 'Kraft durch Freude' (KdF) organization, and the subsequent halt of tourism during World War II.
5. Development 1947 to 1989: This chapter provides a comparative look at the state-controlled tourism sector in the GDR versus the market-driven development and economic expansion of the Federal German Republic.
6. Development since 1990: This final chapter examines the rapid integration and equalization of travel behaviors between East and West Germany following reunification, highlighting the consistency of preferred European holiday destinations.
Keywords
Tourism Geography, Spatial Patterns, German Tourism, History of Tourism, Sommerfrische, Package Tours, Kraft durch Freude, GDR Tourism, Federal German Republic, Mass Tourism, Travel Demand, Alpine Tourism, Seaside Resorts, Tourism Development, Travel Behavior
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the development of spatial patterns of travel demand among German tourists over the last 200 years, specifically investigating how historical, societal, and political changes have dictated destination choices.
What are the main thematic pillars of the work?
The central themes include the transition from elite travel (Grand Tour) to modern mass tourism, the influence of political ideologies in both East and West Germany, and the impact of technological and economic advancements on travel accessibility.
What is the core objective of the study?
The primary goal is to show where Germans have historically traveled and to identify the underlying causes—such as socioeconomic status, transportation availability, and political shifts—that drove these spatial demand patterns.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The study adopts a historical-geographical approach, analyzing statistical data, secondary literature, and institutional documentation to track the evolution of tourism demand from 1871 to the early 2000s.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main body details the evolution of tourism through distinct periods: the early bourgeois era, the interwar and Nazi-era mass-market initiatives, the state-planned tourism of the GDR, and the post-reunification trends of the modern, unified Germany.
Which keywords best describe this work?
Key terms include Tourism Geography, Spatial Patterns, Mass Tourism, German History, and Tourism Development.
How did the concept of 'Sommerfrische' influence German travel?
It established a tradition of urban families retreating to rural or coastal areas for extended summer relaxation, fostering deep, long-term social ties between urban tourists and rural host families.
What was the specific role of the 'Kraft durch Freude' (KdF) organization?
The KdF organization was a state-controlled entity that standardized mass tourism in Germany during the 1930s, making holiday travel accessible to workers through subsidized pricing and large-scale infrastructure projects like Prora.
How did the German Democratic Republic (GDR) manage its tourism sector?
Tourism in the GDR was treated as a state-sponsored social service managed primarily by the trade union FDGB, which prioritized domestic destinations and later facilitated organized travel to fellow socialist countries.
- Quote paper
- Stephan Weidner (Author), Thomas Chrusciel (Author), 2006, German tourists. Development of spatial patterns of demand, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/122999
