ABSTRACT
The development of tourism in Germany was well established by the mid-19th century and has continued rapidly since the end of the Second World War. Actually German tourists are the largest single group in the total number of international tourists. By way of contrast, the tourism education system is relatively new. The first courses to include tourism were established in the 1960s. To date there is no single university course leading to a degree that exclusively deals with tourism. But the outstanding importance of the tourism industry in Germany (a contribution of around 6–8% to the GNP) as well as its growing impacts and the growth of the tourism professions are having the effect of changing this.
